Bates Motel 1. Lost and Found

It was a rough day for Norman, trapped in a box in the ground, no one to help him, barely any oxygen, and worst of all his beloved mother wasn't there to help him through it. He prayed for someone to find him, get him out of that wooden prison and set him free. He lay, covered in dirt, bugs, and whatever other skin crawling contents fell on his flesh. Little did he know Dylan and Sheriff Romero were doing everything in their power to find and free him, he just had to sit tight and wait for their rescue.

Norma sat in the motel office, she had to keep a grip on herself, especially when Emma was around. She didn't need her voice in her ear, asking annoying and prying questions as to Norman's whereabouts, that was her and Sheriff Romero's business only, her son needed to be brought back to her immediately. She had trouble taming her own emotions, she refused to put up with Emma's. She let the teen go home early that night, saying she would handle the night shift. All Norma wanted was to be alone, it was easier for her to handle the situation if she could have time to think about her next move to try and save her son.

Just as she began to think, she saw George's car pull up in the parking lot. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes as she heard him find a place on the gravel and shut the door behind him. She didn't want to deal with him right now. She silently admitted that sleeping with him that night out of impulse was a complete mistake, it was stupid of her to go back to his place, force herself on him, no, that was no where near Norma's style. She was never comfortable making the first move, especially with someone like George, classy, educated, handsome, and pretty sweet from what she could see. She let out an audible sigh before he walked in the door.

As he laid eyes on her, gave her a sweet smile, and held out a bouquet of flowers.

"These are for you" he said, moving behind the desk, getting closer to her.

"That is so sweet!" she announced, faking cheer, and giving him a huge grateful grin.

She took the flowers from him and laid them on the desk in front of her, she kept her eyes on them, and felt herself grow more aware and frustrated as she felt his arms slide around her waist. It wasn't long before he was leaning into her, his mouth pecking wet kisses on her neck. He pulled away and gazed at her.

"I had a good time last night" he grinned seductively and went back to kissing her, slowly his hand moved under her skirt and his fingers skating closer and closer to her upper thigh.

"Uh, George, you know what?" she struggled to speak as his lips pressed harder on her throat, he had her pressed up against the desk.

She pushed him away slightly and fixed herself, shaking her head.

"Not right now" she rejected him, turning back the desk.

"I'm sorry...just not right now" she continued, keeping her eyes on the computer screen in front of her, the light from the monitor making her eyes shine.

"Oh, I get it" he said, looking down at the floor, and running a hand through his hair.

"I've just had a really hard day" she explained, clearing her throat, trying to maintain her composure.

George gave her a softened look.

"What happened?" he asked compassionately.

She thought then, she shouldn't have said that. She didn't need to draw more attention to her situation. She was silently kicking herself inside.

"I just...I've have a really stressful day. Customers screaming at me, I had to clean so many disgusting rooms, and on top of it I have a splitting headache" she explained, putting her head in her hands.

"I'm sorry...do you want some aspirin?" he offered.

She looked up to see his charming gaze, it melted her heart, despite everything else that was going on. George was a nice guy with good intentions. She still had to handle Norman however, so she needed to turn him away and send him out so she could focus on her son.

"No, thank you. I think I'm just going to turn in for the night. A good nights sleep should help. I really like you, George. I know you like me too...sorry I wasn't in the mood" she gave him a sad smile.

"That's okay, you've had a rough day. I'll let you rest" he said, leaning over the desk to kiss her cheek.

When he pulled away, she gave him a sweet grin.

"I promise, when I start feeling better, I will make tonight up to you...if you know what I mean" she gave him a sexy smile and turned to shut the lights off in the back room.

"Already looking forward to it. Actually, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come over my place Friday night, maybe watch a movie, order in?" he offered, watching her hips sway.

"That sounds lovely, George" she smiled at him and walked out of the office, he followed behind and watched as she locked the door and flipped the open sign to closed.

"Good. See you then?" he asked, leaning closer towards her.

"Yes" she grinned.

He took her hips in his hands and pulled her in. Donna Karan cologne filled her nostrils as he dipped his head in towards hers and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. She closed her eyes and wrapped her hands around the nape of his neck. He pulled away and dropped one more small kiss on her forehead before turning away and getting in his car. Norma leaned against the door and watched him go, giving him a small smile as he glanced at her before pulling out of the motel parking lot. After his car was out of sight, she walked up towards the house, when she heard a voice call her name behind her. She stopped walking up the steps and turned to see Sheriff Romero standing right behind her.

"Did you find Norman?" she asked, her eyes big, filled with a mixture of hope and fear.

"We did. Dylan and I found him in a box in the middle of the woods. You were right...Nick Fords men captured him" he said, a pained look on his face.

"Is he okay?" she asked, preparing herself for his response.

"He's fine, we took him to the hospital, he's being checked out by doctors" he explained.

Alex was still recovering from the sight of Norman when they released him from the box. Tussled hair, a face so dirty his features were almost unrecognizable, and numerous parasites clinging to his pale skin.

Norma stepped towards Alex and gave him a quick hug. He flinched a little at the spontaneity of the gesture, but soon his hands rested on her hips. He grinned at her sweet scent, vanilla and roses, but soon forced himself back into professionalism before he let his true feelings show.

She pulled away and stepped back, creating distance between them.

"Thank you, so much, Alex. I really...I can't thank you enough for this" she said, a sweet smile on her face.

"It's my job" he gave her a tight lipped grin, Norma had never seen that much expression on his usually emotionless face.

"Come with me, I'll drive you over to the hospital" he said, walking down the steps to his SUV police cruiser. She followed behind him in the cool, Oregon night air and they drove to hospital.


	2. Date with the Devil

As Norma rushed through the doors of the hospital, she slammed right into Dylan.

"Dylan" she crooned, grabbing him and squeezing him in her embrace.

"Hey, Norma. Norman is fine, he's resting comfortably in the ICU" he explained, clutching her.

He wasn't used to the maternal side of his mother, he'd gone without the caring and affection for so long it almost felt foreign to him, other worldly almost.

"Thank you so much for helping find him, Dylan. I love you, I love you so much" she said, her eyes squeezed shut, holding her son like he was the only person on the universe.

"I'm going to go find the doctor so he can talk to you" he said, his face pressed into her hair.

She let go and gave him a parting smile before walking to Norman's hospital room.

She rushed over to her son. He looked pale, hospital IV's poking into his skin, his face at peace. She grabbed his hand and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"Norman? Sweetie, can you hear me?" she asked, her soft voice humming in his ears.

Norman's eyes flickered open and set on Norma. He had never been so grateful to see another human being.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all of this, honey" she rested her forehead on their clamped together hands.

"Mother, Ms. Watson's father put me in the box. I had these dreams-" he began, but Norma placed a satin skinned finger on his thin lips.

"Shhh, Norman, don't talk about it know. I want you to put all that stuff out of your mind. You need rest" she kissed his cheek and observed him as his eyes scanned all over her face.

"What?" she asked, worried that he was still foggy from the kidnapping.

"I missed you so much, mother" he said, his lips pursing into a smile.

She hugged him and sniffled.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, I honestly don't know" she kissed his temple again.

A few days later, she was able to bring Norman home. He got set up in his room, his mother not allowing him to leave his bed except for dinner and to use the bathroom. Though he loved the passionate smothering she gave him, he felt he was going stir crazy sitting in his room all day, but he let Norma have her way, he always did. Along with her checking up on him every half an hour, Dylan stopped by a lot. He would sit in Norman's room with him and they'd talk about different things, his job, Norman's taxidermy, sometimes they'd even bring up the past, though it was filled with tight lipped secrets, bruises, and scars.

Once Norman had been on bed rest for four days, he confided in Dylan, telling him he couldn't stay in bed any longer, he was going insane. Dylan complied to his brothers complaint, he exited his lukewarm room and headed downstairs to find Norma cleaning the floors. Though many things in her life had gone wrong, Norma always found solace in cleaning, her life had been filled with dirty secrets, it was nice to wipe some of that dirt away, even if it couldn't be personal.

"Norma?" he called behind her, she was facing away from him, swabbing bleach around on the linoleum tiles.

"What do you need, honey?" she asked, throwing her sponge back in the soapy water bucket.

She had been much sweeter to him, after that night in the hospital. He believed half of it was because he found Norman, but pieces of Dylan wanted to think that Norma's new found affection towards him was out of the kindness of her heart.

"Um, actually, could I talk to you for a minute?" he asked coyly.

He had just found a good connection with his mother, he didn't want to mess it up, he was going to stay meek through the conversation, she tended to be kinder to bashfulness. If there was anything he'd learned from his her it was that he acquired her stubborn attitude, and stubborn people did not mix well with overly confident, pushy people. He decided that to make Norman happy, he had to level with his mother.

"Of course, what about?" she smiled slightly, getting up off the floor and facing her eldest son.

"Well, it's just you haven't left the house in five days, I think...I think it would be nice if you got out for a few hours" he said, his tone quiet, but his point clear.

"Oh, I'm fine, besides Norman needs me" she said, now getting a larger mop from the closet.

Dylan halted her by placing a hand on her shoulder, she turned immediately and their identical eyes locked.

"Mom, he's seventeen years old, he doesn't need you by his side all the time. I was talking to him, and we both thought you should get out for a little bit. We think it'll be best, I can keep an eye on Norman for you" he offered.

Norma wanted to argue with him, but once she looked into his softened, sincere expression she couldn't fight him, the recently mended relationship was too valuable to her.

"Well..." she started, she sighed and flashed a small smile his way. "Okay...George did invite me over to his place tonight, I'd feel bad if I cancelled" she admitted, biting her bottom lip.

"That's nice, why don't you go get ready, and I'll finish everything up here" he offered motioning to the unattended puddle of dirty water on the floor.

"Okay" she smiled, kissing his cheek. She sprinted up the stairs and Dylan smiled to himself.

"That wasn't so bad" he muttered quietly.

An hour later, Norma came back downstairs. She had changed from her cleaning attire into a lovely red spaghetti strap spring dress, nothing too fancy.

She entered the living room, to find Dylan sitting on the sofa with a beer in his hand.

"I'm heading out" she exclaimed, grabbing her purse off of the coffee table.

"You look great" he smiled, examining her soft makeup and outfit.

She gave him a sweet smile and kissed his forehead, her lip gloss leaving a semi-visible ring on his skin.

"Don't hesitate to call me if you or Norman need anything" she said, heading into the hallway.

"Have a good time. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Norma" he joked, chuckling to himself.

"Ha Ha" she said sarcastically, shutting the door behind her.

She waited on the motel porch, keeping an eye out for George's car. He said he'd pick her up at around 7, she was a few minutes early.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Alex sitting on a chair outside the motel, a highball glass resting in his hand.

He smiled to himself as he observed her. His eyes not missing a single curve or edge as he examined her frame. She looked stunning, as always.

_There wasn't a single flaw to this woman, was there?_ He thought silently.

"Hey, Norma" he greeted her, and she turned to face him.

"Hey, Alex" she gave him a sly smile.

The smile that could shatter his thick, seemingly unbreakable exterior to pieces.

"How's Norman doing?" he asked, focusing on the ice cubes in his glass. He needed to shield the passion burning in his soft brown eyes.

"He's good, he's been sleeping a lot actually" she explained.

"Well that's good, after all he's been through he should be getting as much sleep as possible" he informed her taking a sip of his scotch.

Suddenly, George pulled up. Norma smiled at him through the glass window. She turned back to Alex before getting in his car.

"Have a good night" she smiled and shut the door behind her.

"You too" he forced through gritted teeth and a clenched fist.

He got up from the seat once they were out of sight and went back into his motel room. He noticed his skin was hot, his shoulders were tense, and his heart was pounding.

Alex didn't know who the man in the car was that picked Norma up, but he would love to bash his face in. He sighed as he realized how jealous he was.

"Unbelievable" he muttered, his lips touching the rim of his glass.

He was envious of a man taking Norma out and she wasn't even his...yet.


	3. Exhausted and Intellectual in France

As George led her to his living room, she took everything in. Sure she'd been in his home before, but she could never get over how breathtakingly beautiful it was.

They sat on the couch and engaged in small talk.

"You look breathtaking" he said, looking her over, grinning seductively.

"Thank you, and you look very handsome if I may say so" she blushed and giggled, peaking at him out of the corner of her eye.

He smiled, and placed a hand on her lower back.

"You wanna start the movie?" he asked, grinning slightly at her.

"Sure. What are we watching?" she asked, leaning back on the white leather sofa.

"It's a French film called "La Belle Noiseuse" he explained, getting up and pressing play on the DVD player.

She can't say she was shocked, it figures George would choose a foreign film, he _was _well-educated after all.

He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her up against his chest. She curled her legs under her body and set her eyes on the screen.

She barely felt herself fall asleep, until George's shoulder jerked, then she jolted awake, her eyes re-adjusted themselves to the screen.

"I love the way this film is shot, it really tells about the characters and their personal struggles" he whispered in her ear.

"Yeah...I agree" she said, even though she had no idea what the movie was about. She was inherently grateful when the credits came on the screen.

He reached for the clicker and turned the television off.

"Good, right?" he asked, a small smile on his handsome face.

"Yeah, wonderful" she said, forcing an entertained smile.

Slowly, he leaned towards her, his mouth quickly landed on her ear, he began nibbling her lobe.

Her hands scanned all over his back.

"Your so sexy" he whispered in her ear.

His lips crashed into hers, while his fingers made their way under her dress.

His hand drifted inside her panties, his fingers prodding at her.

"Slow down" she said breathlessly.

He fell on top of her and yanked her dress off. She closed her eyes and let him inside of her, not that he was forceful, he was rushed and rough. She faked an orgasm to make him finish faster.

Afterwards he drove her home, he pulled up in the same place he picked her up, outside of room 9.

"I had an amazing night, George, thank you for everything" she said, giving him a wide smile.

"I did too" he grinned, the car got silent for a moment.

"Would you like to come to dinner with Christine, me, and our parents Sunday night?" he offered, placing a hand on her leg.

"You want me to meet your parents?" she asked, a little surprised at the gesture, she'd only gone out with George twice.

"Well, yeah...I figured you'd like them, I know they'd love you" he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"Sure" she smiled and opened the door.

He grabbed her arm then and pulled her back in, dropping a kiss on her lips.

"Goodnight" he smiled, face to face with her.

"Goodnight" she gave him one quick kiss and slid out of his car.

She watched him go and stood there thinking.

George wanting her to meet his parents? This early? It was odd for her. She liked him, despite the fact that he was everything she wasn't. She hadn't detected anything wrong with him, except that he wasn't very good in bed, but she could fix that. She smiled to herself as she walked up the steps to her home and shut the door behind her.

The next morning, Norma was outside the motel watering the flowers. She always got out to do it bright and early, she was never one to sleep in, she couldn't bare the thought of staying in bed until the afternoon. She knew when she bought the motel it needed plenty of maintenance and care, she was prepared to do so.

Alex always left for work at 9 am sharp, he couldn't tolerate tardiness, but as he looked out his motel room window he saw Norma watering the plants. He couldn't even handle being around her, he had obvious feelings for her that he couldn't keep under wraps when they spoke. His palms got sweaty, he fidgeted, and he had to try his damnedest not to get tongue-tied around her. He knew he had to stay swift and on his games at all times or else she wouldn't even think twice about looking his way. Though his desire for the woman was plain to see he walked outside anyway, he had to get to work, the 9 hours of his day where he could get away from Norma, getting his mind off of her was a different story. He kept his head down and paced directly to his SUV.

"Hi, Alex" he heard from behind her, he scrunched up his face at the failed attempt, of course she was going to say something to him.

When he went to turn and face her, he lost his balance and tripped on the tiny rocks below him. He looked down, his butt on the gravel, his hands flat on the ground behind him, he was absolutely humiliated. He didn't need a mirror to know his face was beat read.

"Oh my God, Alex" she said, her mouth wide open, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Norma dropped the water can immediately and rushed over to him. She offered him her hand.

He gave her a tight smile and grabbed a hold of her, she pulled him up, causing him to lean forward into her.

"Sorry" he muttered as he pulled away from her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, dusting off the shoulders of his uniform.

"I'm fine, Norma" he said seriously, causing her to drop her hands back down to her sides.

"Thanks" he said before getting into his SUV and driving to work.

On his way to the station, a voice in his had kept berating him, for making an idiot of himself in front of the one woman he wanted to impress. Looks like he wasn't the smooth ladies man he thought he could be. He shook his head and tried to stop replaying the incident in his mind. He'd never been that way around any woman in his life, normally he could hold his own with most of them, but Norma...Norma had a way over him that no one else did. He pulled into the station, ready to throw himself into his work, as if that would clear his love laced thoughts.

Norma sat at the motel desk, taking reservations. Suddenly, George came in.

"George- I, uh, I wasn't expecting you to come by" she said, bewildered by his surprise visit.

"Don't you answer your phone?" he asked, extremely frustrated.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I must have called you six times" he said, waving his phone in front of her face.

"I don't have my cell on me, I've been busy all morning" she explained.

She was angry that he would accuse her of ignoring him intentionally, but she tried to brush it off, she didn't want to mess up what they had, he was her only stability.

"Well, I spoke with my parents, we need to meet them at 8 pm tomorrow night. I'll pick you up then?" he said, returning back to his charming self.

She was speechless, she opened her mouth to try to find words but she couldn't, she didn't feel invited anymore, she felt forced. But then, seeing that nice smile on George's face made her obedient.

She nodded and went back to work, he smiled at her.

"I need to get back to work, but I'll see you later. And keep your phone on" he said, the last sentence sounding like a scolding.

He was probably just having a bad day, why else would he come in and berate her for something as little a deal as not picking up his calls. She stopped obsessing over it, she knew George was right for her, she deserved someone like him, someone who really cared about her, gave her all his love, and paid attention to her needs. She still felt shitty about his attitude though, she looked up from her laptop, her eyes falling to the parking lot outside, all she could picture was Alex falling down, she smiled to herself and went back to work.


	4. Awkward Introduction

**Without further or do, here is another chapter for you guys. I appreciate the reviews I have gotten so far. I live for feedback, please leave me more if you can, I'd love to know if you guys enjoy my story and want me to keep going. Enjoy.**

Thursday morning, Norma sat in the front office, she was sorting out files. She liked the home and the motel but she always found something that the old owner left behind, reminding her more and more of Keith Summers. As she went through the papers, she truly saw how much debt the family was in. She shook her head and tossed them all in the nearest trash can. She then headed outside and started sweeping the motel porch, she knew she had to maintain a serious upkeep if she wanted to have a successful business with steady customers. She looked up at the main road and saw George's car pulling towards him. She felt a mixture of happiness and regret. With George's flighty new attitude, she was never really sure what to expect. She watched as he stepped out of the car. His eyes met hers and he gave her a kind smile. She let out a sigh of relief, he seemed happy enough. He walked up to her and slid his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.

"Hi" he said playfully.

"Hello" she exclaimed, feeling his tongue on her skin.

"What are you doing here?" she withdrew and smiled.

"I'm on my lunch break and I figured I'd come see you" he explained, running his hands up and down her arms.

He looked around then, and pushed her gently up against the motel wall, his hands on her ass. She rested her lips on his.

They froze when they heard someone clear their throat behind them, they turned their heads simultaneously.

Norma's face was red with embarrassment when she saw Alex standing their watching them.

Norma wiped her lips with the back of her hand, untangled herself from George, and walked towards him.

"Need something?" she said, flustered and still trying to catch her breath.

"Uh, yeah...just some fresh linens" he asked, his hand on the nape of his neck, an awkward tension in the air.

"Oh yeah, in the back office, I'll go grab some" she said blankly, heading into the office.

When she was gone, Alex eyed George.

He walked over to him and shook his hand.

"Hi, I'm George Heldens" he introduced himself, a friendly smile on his face.

"Sheriff Alex Romero" he replied, his voice gruff, his grip tight.

"You and Norma...dating?" he asked casually, as if he didn't care, even through the underlying part of him wanted to tell George to screw off so he could have Norma to himself.

"We are" he smiled, looking over his shoulder.

Alex nodded slowly and stood there waiting. He couldn't define the rage he felt for this man, someone he'd never met or seen in his life. He was jealous of him, sure, but not because of his handsome features or nice car, because he got to be with Norma, the woman he would do anything to be with. He just wanted to grab her face and tell her how badly he wanted her. He knew he couldn't, though he had a strong exterior, Alex was deeply afraid of rejection.

Norma walked towards Alex and handed him a few fresh linens, the smell of Tide in the air between them. She smiled at him.

"Here you are" she said professionally.

"Thanks, Norma" he grinned and walked back into room 9.

She paced back to George and smiled sweetly at him.

"Sorry about that" she said softly, her hands resting on his chest.

"Are you two close?" he asked, his eyes focused on her, a tight grip on her hips.

"Not really...we're just friends" she answered, confused as to why George would ask.

She had looked at Alex a couple of times, sure, but who wouldn't? He was handsome and protective. They'd grown closer over the past year but she knew he didn't think of her like that, so she never really bothered.

"Good" he said sharply.

A dark smile graced his lips and he kissed her cheek.

"I love how your so truthful with me...nothing like that bitch I used to date" he grimaced at the thought, his face going from angry back to charming.

She gave him a small smile, unsure of how to respond to the vulgar way he responded to his ex. She wondered what happened between them. Had she been a cheater or had George just been paranoid.

He clutched her hand, pulled her towards him, and pecked her cheek.

"I need to get back" he mumbled, his lips still on her skin.

"Okay" she said freely, pulling away and gripping his hand before letting go.

"I'll see you later" he declared, walking back to his car.

She walked back into the motel office and got back to work.

Before she went to bed that night, Norma checked her phone, she hadn't been able to do so all day, so many people wanted to rent out rooms in summer it was ridiculous. When she looked at her screen, all she saw were notifications from George. She had at least 20 text messages and 6 phone calls from him. She figured it had to be an emergency. She quickly called him, hoping he wasn't already asleep. He picked up on the first ring.

"George, I got your texts and calls, is everything okay?" she asked, a sense of worry in her voice.

"Yeah, everything's fine, except for the fact that my girlfriend won't pick up her goddamn phone when I call" he said nastily.

Her breath caught in her throat. _Girlfriend_? George was already calling her his girlfriend. She wasn't going to anger him further, so she figured she'd leave it alone until he was calm and happy again.

"I'm sorry, I was working late I-"

"I'm sure you were, what? Were you fucking that cop I met earlier?" he asked, his voice turning into a growl.

Her mouth dropped open. Norma couldn't believe this was the same man who swept her off her feet. Shivers ran up her spine, she swore she was talking to Sam again. She gained the courage to fight back.

"No, George, I told you earlier, we are just friends!" she yelled, rolling her watery eyes in annoyance and frustration.

"Just friends. I saw the way you were looking at him earlier!" he screamed back.

She rubbed her head. Alex. He was jealous of Alex, and she wasn't even flirting with him! She smiled at him, sure, but she was just being friendly.

"George, I'm not going to tell you again. Alex and I are friends, we aren't sleeping together. Jesus, your acting like I was rubbing up against him or something" she said, her voice growing hoarse. She didn't have the energy to argue.

"I'm sure you'd like that" he said, scoffing.

"George, stop it. I swear to God, I will end it right now" she threatened, she knew that was the only way to get him to knock it off.

"No, no, Norma, please...I'm sorry, baby" he groaned sadly "I didn't mean it...I just got jealous, that's all. Your just, your so beautiful and I see the way guys look at you" he said sweetly.

"George, you have to trust me, okay? I won't cheat on you. The only flirting me and Alex were doing was in your head" she reassured him, chuckling a bit.

"I trust you, I'm sorry" he apologized sincerely.

She smiled, she'd never had a guy hurt her and then apologize. She was so used to Sam and..._Caleb_. It was hard for her to understand that there were good guys out there.

"Good" she smiled, her voice soft.

"But...as long as were together, I don't want you to be around that Alex guy" he warned her, his voice coming at her like a threat.

She paused for a minute and thought. Avoid Alex? He'd been with her through everything, Abernathy, Keith Summers, Shelby, he found Norman for her. She took a deep breath, she didn't want to push Alex away, she needed him for protective reasons. How was she supposed to feel safe without him there? Who would take care of the demons that crept into Norma's life. George could but he wasn't a cop, he couldn't kill people who got in her way. And Alex was staying at her motel! She was bound to see him everyday, he came into the office every morning for coffee when she was working. She couldn't tell him to leave. She sighed, placing a hand on her forehead.

"Alright, if it makes you happy" she said, giving up the argument, she didn't want to deal with it, especially when she was this tired.

"Thank you" he said happily.

There was a brief silence for a minute.

"Norma?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah?" she asked yawning.

"I-I...I love you" he said, tripping over his words, she could tell he was nervous.

Her eyes shot open. He loved her? George loved her? It was soon, but hell any stability was good stability. She thought about it for a minute. Sure, George was a good guy and she could keep him around for a while. But did she love him? Could he protect her and keep her safe? Did he _really_ care about her? She could tell he was getting scared by her silence.

"I love you too, George" she said, smiling softly.

"It's good to hear" he laughed.

She giggled.

"I should go to bed, I have lots of reservations tomorrow" she groaned in discontent.

"Okay. I have to get up early too. Goodnight, Norma. I love you" he said again, obviously more comfortable saying it.

"I love you too. Goodnight" she cooed, and hung up.

She lay in bed thinking. She came to the conclusion that she was George's girlfriend. He had a temper, that was obvious. She needed to keep him under control, she didn't want another man to hurt her. The only men in her life who hadn't were Norman...and Alex. No, she couldn't see him anymore. If he wanted a conversation with her, she would keep it short and cordial. She had no need for him, not with George by her side. Norma fell asleep slowly, the thoughts of a new boyfriend swirling around in her mind.


	5. Wine and Dine

**Yay! 5 sweet reviews from the nicest readers I could imagine. Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement, I will keep writing this story. Enjoy this chapter :) Let me know what you think by leaving me a review, criticism always welcome. **

Friday night Norma was going to meet George's parents, she thumbed through her organized, aged wardrobe and examined each article of clothing with caution. She had to look perfect tonight. She decided upon a v-necked, purple, silk dress. Nothing too elegant, but just the right ensemble for her liking. She spritzed her lilac scented perfume on her neck before heading outside to wait for George. She sat on the motel porch waiting when she heard the motel office phone ring. Norma looked into the office window, sighed, and headed inside to answer, she figured she'd have to do something to pass the time.

"Hello? Bates Motel?" she answered.

"Hello, I was wondering if you guys had any vacancies at the moment?" a sweet voice answered back.

"Unfortunately, we do not. I'm sorry. However, if you still want a room, we have numerous check outs tomorrow, you can call back and see if we have a room open for reservation. Is that okay?" she asked pleasantly, she wanted to avoid all confrontation with anyone and be in the greatest mood for tonight.

"That's fine, thank you, ma'am" she said, hanging up.

Norma's face held a satisfied smile as she looked down at the phone, she was so grateful it wasn't another asshole.

George entered the office and looked her over.

"I've been waiting for two minutes" he said impatiently, a dark glare in his eyes.

"I'm sorry" she said, walking towards him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" he said, placing his hands in front of her, halting her mobility.

"What?" she asked, becoming more and more frustrated at his attitude towards her.

"You're not meeting my parents dressed like _that_ are you?" he exclaimed rudely, squinting his eyes at her outfit.

"What the hell is the matter with it?" she asked, a nasty look on her face, she glanced down at her clothing, feeling insecure.

"Oh nothing, besides the fact that your breasts are hanging out like a girl you'd see at a truck stop" he said sarcastically.

She just looked at him with an open mouth, her eyes wet. She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. Was this the same charming guy from two nights ago? The same man who called her his girlfriend, told her he loved her.

"You need to change and then we'll go" he said strictly.

Despite his cruel words and the demonic look in his eyes, she wouldn't move, she was in frightened awe of what came over him.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm, hard. He leaned closer to her and they locked eyes.

"_Now_" he said darkly, his voice almost a growl.

He walked out towards the car and glanced back at her.

"I'll be waiting" he said sounding annoyed.

She took a minute. What was happening? He had to be in a bad mood, maybe he just had a really stressful day at work or maybe he got nervous around his parents. She wasn't sure but she took a deep breath and headed outside, but not before bumping into Alex, a concerned look on his face. She moved back, further away from him, knowing George's mood would sour even more if he saw them talking, even if they made eye contact, it would set him off.

He leaned close to her, as if he were about to tell her a secret.

"Does he always talk to you like that?" he asked, his eyes warm, his voice laced with concern.

"_God_, eavesdrop much?" she scoffed angrily and started walking away, up the stairs to her house.

"Hey, I'm just looking out for you" he said, his voice hitting her back.

She glanced into the parking lot. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that George's car was facing away from them, there was no way he could spot them together.

"Believe it or not, Alex, but I'm a grown woman and I can take care of myself" she said nastily, walking into her home.

Her face was hot with frustration, this was definitely not the mood she wanted to be in for tonight. One man angry at her for wearing the wrong thing and another who just wanted to but into her life. Norma silently swore that Alex Romero would do whatever it took to put her behind bars, he wanted to get her in trouble and make her suffer. She couldn't figure out why, but she blew the thought off as she went back into her wardrobe and picked another dress. When she walked outside and into George's car, he looked her over again.

"See, that's much better" he said, examining her lacy taupe dinner dress.

She nodded at him and they drove off.

As they walked through the restaurant, Norma felt sharp waves of anxiety rise in her stomach. She was so scared to meet The Heldens, she longed to make a good impression. She would have to put on an act, something that made her look like a sweet, innocent woman. She needed them to see that she was perfect for her son, she could make him happy. George led her to the table. He walked over to his parents and gave his mother a hug and his father a pat on the shoulder. Norma outstretched her hand to the couple, giving them her most pleasant, wide smile.

"Mom, Dad, this is Norma Bates, the woman I've been seeing" he smiled at her.

"Hello dear, I'm Helena" she gave her a grin and motioned for her to sit down next to her.

"And I'm Ralph" he smiled, and kissed her hand.

"Nice to meet you both, you have a wonderful son" she said, flashing a polite smirk George's way.

He nodded at her slightly, almost as if he was telling her that she was doing and saying the right things so far.

"Where's Christine?" George asked, raising an eyebrow and looking for his sister.

"Oh, she couldn't make it tonight, she and Peter had a charity benefit" Helena explained, reading her menu.

"I understand. You know, she introduced Norma and I" he laughed and eyed her from across the table.

"How did you and Christine meet?" Ralph asked Norma, locking eyes with her.

He had the same ones as George, a pair of light green, kind eyes.

"Christine and I met at a community theater event" she explained, taking a sip of red whine, she had to loosen up.

"How nice" Helena smiled sweetly and patted her hand.

Norma smiled at her, she looked identical to Christine.

"So, how long have you two been seeing one another?" Ralph asked, taking his glasses off to clean them.

"A month" George claimed.

Norma shrugged and grinned, she supposed it had been that long, they'd only made it official two days ago.

"So, Norma, where did you go to school?" Ralph asked curiously.

She could tell he was the one who wanted to get the most information on her. She went frozen at that question, it was either lie or tell him the honest to God truth. One way they all trade phony smiles and the other they all look down on her. She decided if she wanted a good, healthy relationship, she'd have to tell the truth, something she hadn't done in a while.

"I, uh...I didn't go to college" she admitted, keeping her eyes transfixed on the table cloth, her hands sweating.

Ralph glanced at his wife across the table, giving her a warning look.

"I see...did you go to high school?" he asked, pushing her further.

She felt herself unravel.

She nodded slowly.

"Yes I did" she said, trying to maintain eye contact with him, though it was hard.

"You just didn't get accepted to a collage or you didn't apply?" he asked, he pretend to be confused, but inside, he knew exactly what he was doing.

"No, I got pregnant" she blurted truthfully, obviously annoyed.

She could feel George's angry eyes on her, but she didn't dare look up to face him.

"Looking at you I wouldn't have been able to tell" Ralph said laughing at his own words.

"What is _that_ supposed to mean?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I just meant, you don't look like the majority of high school dropouts, or early mothers I've seen" he said, giving her a sly smirk.

"Why? Because I'm wearing a nice dress and I can hold a phony smile?" she scoffed, she threw her napkin on the table.

She rose from the table then.

"I can't do this" she murmured.

"It was very nice meeting you two" she said, her eyes watering, she power walked towards the exit.

She walked outside and wiped the falling tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe what she'd done. A voice in her head told her she did the right thing, she didn't belong there, with people like that, the educated and classy, the kind of people that looked down on her. Deep down in her heart, she knew she shouldn't have done it, she should have kept her mouth shut and lied to George's parents, she should have tried to impress them rather then pushing them away. She rolled her eyes and sighed. She hitched her purse over her shoulder and walked along the road.

_How could I have been so stupid? _


	6. Vodka, Spit Backs, and Litter

**Wow! 7 amazingly sweet reviews! I couldn't ask for better readers :) I love you all so much, this chapter is dedicated to all who read and enjoy. Leave me some feedback, let me know if you like it or not. **

Norma walked two miles until she found a little bar nestled in between an old gas station and a convenience store. She decided she'd go in, she needed a drink after tonight.

As Norma walked inside, she looked at her surroundings. It was a dim lit bar, the smell of apple martini mix in the air, the sound of people rambling to one another way passed wasted, and some Lynyrd Skynyrd song playing in the background.

She took a seat on the red leather bar stool.

The bartender, a larger man, with a graying beard, in a leather vest approached her from behind the bar.

"What can I get for you, miss?" he asked, washing a dirty beer mug.

"Um...I'll just have a plain vodka on the rocks please" she said, reaching into her bag.

"It's on me" she heard from behind her, she jumped at first, then turned around.

She looked into Alex Romero's warm brown eyes.

"Alex, you don't have to-"

"It's on me" he said, handing the bartender a few bills.

She gave him an annoyed glare and sighed.

"Thank you" she said shooting him a tight lipped, small smile.

He looked her over. Her lace dress hugging her in all the right places, her curly dirty blonde locks cascading over her shoulders, and her beautiful blue eyes pale with an obvious sadness.

He confidently took the chair next to her and sipped on his Jack Daniels, his body smelling like a mixture of cologne and the alcohol in his hand.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked, clearly irritated by his presence.

"I needed a drink, this is the only bar in town where there are no 20 somethings buzzing around, slurring about random shit I don't care about. What are _you_ doing here? I didn't take you for much of a drinker" he asked, watching as she sipped on the vodka.

"I drink on occasion, I'm just here because I...never mind" she said, focusing on the sports game projected on the flat screen mounted to the wall.

He kept his eyes on her.

Finally, she glared at him.

"What?" she asked clearly looking for an argument.

"You look upset, I figured I would ask what was the matter" he said, smirking, he reached into the bowl of peanuts next to his arm and popped a few in his mouth.

"Well, nothing is wrong. Stop bothering me, oh and by the way, I'm about one hundred percent sure those nuts you just ate were spit backs" she said, raising her eyebrow slightly at him, and grinning in minimal comic relief.

His eyes shot open at her comment, he reached for a napkin, and wiped his tongue, making a gagging noise as he tossed the napkin aside.

"How did you know those were spit backs?" he asked, his face still scrunched up in disgust from the taste of the saliva coated snack.

"Mmm, I used to work in a bar for a little while before I got pregnant with Norman" she said, nursing her drink.

She looked over at the napkin on the floor.

"You know, you really shouldn't litter" she said, motioning to the garbage.

"Never mind my shit. What's wrong?" he asked, scanning all over her gorgeous face with his eyes.

She looked at him, sighed, and opened her mouth to speak.

The amount of butterflies she put in his stomach was ridiculous. He sat upright, giving her his full attention.

"Well, I went to meet George's parents in this really swanky restaurant a few miles away. I made a complete idiot of myself and walked out" she said, laughing, and shaking her head at her own story.

"Meeting his parents? What is this high school?" he asked, tossing back the rest of his drink.

"He happens to be very sophisticated, he wanted to take our relationship to the next level...I was so stupid to think I deserved a man like him" she said, squinting her eyes at the contents of her glass.

"Hey" he said, placing a hand on her arm, his warm eyes staring into her blues filled with sadness and disappointment in herself.

"Norma, you deserve-"

"Norma!" she heard, breaking eye contact with Alex and looking towards the direction of the voice.

It was George, he rushed to her side, about to scold her, but then his eyes landed on the Sheriff.

"Hello, Sheriff" he said, nodding his way.

Alex gave him a sarcastic smile and sipped his drink.

George placed a hand on her waist and kissed her cheek.

"Norma, can I speak to you outside?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.

She nodded, grabbed her purse, and got up to follow him to the exit. She was wondering how he found her.

Once they got outside, George looked around, when he saw no one, he grabbed Norma's arm tightly and pulled her towards the back of the bar.

He pinned her against the bricks.

"George your hurting me!" she yelled.

He only slammed her back against the bricks harder.

"How dare you embarrass me like that!" he growled at her, their faces inches apart. She turned her head away in distaste and fear.

"George, I'm sorry" she yelped, tears leaking from her eyes.

"And then you go and whore around behind my back with your _friend_, Alex" he thundered at her.

He took her shoulders and slammed her against the bricks two more times.

She squealed in pain.

"Ow" she cried, her voice laced with sadness and her back on fire.

"Your nothing but a slut!" he roared, his hand moving up to her neck. He wrapped his hand tightly around it, clutching.

"Stop!" she managed to gasp, his hand squeezing her tightly, her air waves being cut off every second.

He squeezed his hardest, then tossed her down on the gravel, walking away from her.

She watched his figure get into his car and speed off.

She got up and leaned against the bricks gently, afraid of putting pressure on her probably forming bruises.

She reached into her clutch and pulled out her phone. She called a cab to come pick her up. She moved back out to the front parking lot and waited for her ride. Norma prayed she wouldn't see Alex, she didn't want an interrogation right now. She couldn't believe what had just happened, who was that? That was an evil entity that only wanted to hurt her, that was definitely not George Heldens.

The next morning, Norma woke up with shooting pain in her upper and lower back. She didn't need to look to know it was George. She put her head in her hands and got up out of her bed. She stripped off her pajama shirt and went into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror, sure enough bruises covered her soft, porcelain skin. She can't say she was shocked, she'd been through the same exact event with Sam. The scars, bumps, and bruises didn't ail her anymore, it was just the thought of the person who gave them to her. Unfortunately, it was hot out that day, too hot to wear a cardigan to cover up the nasty afflictions, so she picked a dress that she thought covered them all.

She headed downstairs to the motel office and began booking check in's on her laptop.

Much to her adversity, Alex walked in, eager for his morning cup of coffee.

"Hey, Norma" he said, nodding at her.

"Good morning" she greeted him emotionless, still typing on the computer.

"What happened to you last night?" he asked, filling his cup with coffee.

"Nothing, George came to get me" she lied.

"I see. Do you have anymore sugar?" he asked, looking around on the coffee table.

"Um, I think we may in the back" she turned to look.

"Holy shit" she heard whispered behind her, stopping dead in her tracks, she knew what he saw.

"Norma" he said sharply.

He stared at her porcelain skin. She had a black and blue bruise on her shoulder blade, and another light green and purple one peaking out off the back of her dress near her spine. He was filled with rage when he saw them. He knew it was George. He wanted to kill him, massacre him, and bury his body in a shallow grave.

She walked into the back office despite his worry, reached into a basket full of sugars and creams, and grabbed a few packets. She returned in front of him and dropped them on the table.

"Norma, did George give you those?" he asked, worry and concern washed over his face.

She stared at the screen, blatantly ignoring his questions and accusations.

"Norma!" he yelled, trying to lock eyes with her. She wouldn't budge.

"Norma, goddammit!" he scolded.

Her head snapped up at her.

"What! What the hell do you want?!" she yelled, her face red with anger and frustration.

"Who gave you those bruises?" he reprimanded her.

"None of your fucking business!" she yelled, her eyes wide, an almost ravenous look on her face.

"Norma, I just want to help you" he said, his tone meek, his face genuine.

She couldn't let him get between her and George. Whatever they still had between them.

"Just leave me alone! Leave me alone!" she shrieked, a few tears making her cheeks wet.

"You want me to leave?" he asked sharply.

"Get out!" she hollered.

Alex looked at her, her voice was angry but her face was filled with sadness. Her bottom lip was trembling, her eyes overflowing with tears.

Though it hurt, he placed a hand on the knob and looked at her one last time, her stance still strong. He walked outside and shut the door behind him.


	7. Shattered Hearts

**Hey everyone :) Thank you so so much for all the kind reviews! Extremely grateful to all of you. Here is the anticipated next chapter, hope you guys like it. Please leave me some more reviews, tell me if you like how the story is going. I love you all, enjoy 3 **

Two days later, George finally contacted Norma.

She was cleaning one of the motel rooms when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Hello?" she asked, her eyes flew down to see a sticky orange fluid all over her maid uniform.

"Norma, it's me" George said, his voice soft as ever.

"George?" she asked, sighing, slapping her hand on her thigh and plopping onto the bed.

"Yeah. Look, I'm so, so sorry, baby. I didn't mean to hurt you. My parents can be real assholes, and I'm sorry they made you feel insecure" he apologized, sounding sincere.

"I was a real asshole the other night too, I shouldn't have left you guys like that, I'm sorry too" she said, smiling a bit at the sweetness in his voice.

"Are we okay?" he asked, a sense of hopefulness in his voice.

She took a minute to think about it. She knew he could provide things for her that other men couldn't, a good lifestyle, nice income, an actual normal, happy family. She smiled at his words and advances.

"Yes. We are okay" she smiled into the other end of the phone.

"Can I come see you?" he asked happily.

"Of course" she said, wheeling her maid cart out of the motel room and returning it to the back office.

They set up details to meet around 9 pm that night. She took off the maid jacket and tossed it on the cart, a spring in her step.

* * *

Around 8:40 pm, Norma waited in the office for George. She updated the motel website while picking at a danish she had sitting on the desk. She snapped the laptop shut when she heard a car door shut outside. George entered the office and pranced behind the desk, entwining her in his arms. He held her head in his hands and planted a long, slow kiss on her lips.

"I love you" he said, looking into her eyes.

"I love you, too" she said, giving him one more quick hug.

"Mmm...you smell like raspberries" he said, pulling away from her.

She motioned to the half eaten danish sitting on the desk.

"Oh Norma, you shouldn't be eating that" he said, taking the plate and tossing the contents in the garbage can.

"I was just hungry" she said rolling her eyes at the dessert in the trash.

"Next time, go for some fruit or yogurt. It will keep you energized and skinny" he said, kissing her neck.

She thought for a moment, was she getting fat? She had confidence, but her body image was always a struggle. She was never happy with her figure.

"You think I'm fat?" she asked, big, sad eyes piercing up at him.

"Honey, your a only little chunky, not fat. I'm just saying eating shit like that will make you pack on the pounds" he chuckled, kissing her forehead.

"Oh, thanks" she forced a smile through the lump of sadness in her throat.

"Yeah, no problem. So...how about we go into one of those empty motel rooms and really make up for the other night?" he said, pressing himself up against her suggestively.

The thought of a flabby stomach, jiggling thighs, and underarm fat popped into her head. She didn't want to get naked in front of a man who thought she was "chunky".

"C'mon, your so pretty" he said, kissing her neck again.

She took his hand and led him into cabin 1, closest to the office. She figured the faster she agreed and they did it, the quicker she could put her clothes back on to cover all of her gross flesh.

* * *

Alex Romero stayed at his office late that night. He and Norma's fight had really stuck with him, it hurt. The way she spoke to him, the sad look on her face, and the bruises, those haunted him specifically. To think someone could hurt her like that, made him ache.

Suddenly, Deputy Lynn walked into his office.

"Sheriff, you going home?" she asked, packed up and ready to end her shift.

"I'm going to stay for a little while longer. Have a good night deputy" he nodded her way and gave a minimal smile.

"Night, Sheriff" she said, strolling out of his office.

He got up then and looked around outside, when he saw no one, he returned to his office, shutting the door behind him.

He logged onto his computer and pulled up the public records and criminal database.

Alex didn't like using the system for personal reasons or investigating someone without a reason. He had a very high risk job, playing it safe was the best thing he could do. In that moment, he lost all of his inhibitions and morals as he typed George Heldens into the search engine.

* * *

George lie in bed his arms behind his head, leaning against the headboard. Norma sit on the edge of the bed, re-zipping her skirt. He leaned over and twirled his fingers in her hair.

"You should cut your hair short again" he suggested.

"I don't know, I took me a while to grow it out, plus I wasn't crazy about the color I dyed it" she explained, buttoning up her blouse.

"Short hair is sexy hair" he stated, getting up from the bed and re-dressing.

"You don't think I'm sexy?" she asked, looking in the mirror now, she didn't find herself very attractive either.

"I'm not saying that, your plenty sexy, it's just...the long hair is unflattering" he admitted, putting his blazer back on.

She rolled her eyes at the comment, not only was she chunky in his eyes, but unflattering? Sam may have beat the shit out of her but he never made a negative remark about her appearance.

"I'm going to head home" he said, taking her hips and kissing her cheek.

"Goodnight, George" she said, clearly keeping a distance in her tone of voice.

"I love you" he declared, placing his forehead on hers.

"Love you too" she exclaimed, holding onto his hand and walking him to his car.

He got inside and started the engine. She leaned in and kissed his mouth, with no words she returned to the motel porch and watched him leave.

As soon as he pulled away, Alex pulled into his now vacant spot. Norma rolled her eyes in distaste and walked back towards the office. She thought she was unnoticeable until she heard Alex call her name from behind. She cursed internally and turned around, an angry pout hung from her lips. He took a minute to look at her, she looked amazing as always, her hair slightly tussled, her cheeks giving a glow despite the repugnance on her face.

"What do you want, Alex?" she sighed, already checked out of the conversation.

"Can I speak to you inside, please?" he asked, keeping the encounter professional, though it was anything but.

She rolled her eyes and opened the door to the front office, he followed her behind like a lost puppy.

He closed the door tightly behind them.

"Now, what is this about?" she asked, her elbow resting on the desk.

He took a deep breathe and pulled a file out of his jacket pocket.

"What the hell is that?" she asked, already sounding miffed.

"Norma, I need you to listen to me" he said, his eyes filled with the utmost seriousness and consternation.

"What do you think I'm doing right now?" she asked impertinently.

He sighed and moved over closer to her, looking at her from across the motel desk.

"Look, I did some research on George and-"

"Here we go!" she hollered, scoffing at him.

"Norma" he warned.

"Alex, I don't know what you have against him. I swear this is ridiculous, can't I have a normal relationship with a man without people prying in and ruining it? George is a good guy!" she claimed defensively.

She truthfully thought he was a good person but he did have some flaws, just like everyone else. She can't say she was angry that Alex would want to do research on him...she hadn't done any herself. Why would Alex pull up George's personal file anyway? Her relationship was none of his business. Unless he really did care about her...no, there's no way in hell he did. He liked to watch her suffer and get upset. Right?

"Good guy? Norma, he put his hands on you! I know he's the one who gave you those bruises on your back" he yelled, looking at her like she was crazy.

"So what if he did? I made him angry. Why do you even care, anyway?" she asked sharply, her voice annoyed and malicious.

He shook his head slowly.

"You know what? Just...forget it" he said, walking out of the motel office.

She thought for a minute. She had never seen Alex like that before, his eyes were filled with pain, his voice was weak, he appeared almost...heartbroken.

He was heartbroken at her words. She felt bad, but it served him right for pushing himself into her and George's union. He never cared before, why was he starting now? Suddenly, her eyes popped open, her body turned into a powerhouse, shock and surprise was written all over her face.

Alex Romero had feelings for her.


	8. Watch Over You

**Hello to all my wonderful readers and supporters :) I would like to dedicate this chapter to denisanoemi1, guests Rebecca &amp; Chloe, and finally one amazing girl I've met on this site, she has quite a talent, ExtraordinaryTogether. Thanks to all of you, I have kept writing. I appreciate you all so so much and don't know what I'd do without your kind words or encouragement. I can assure you all that this chapter is pretty heated, but I hope you guys like it. If I can make my readers feel something, I know I'm doing my job. Leave me some reviews and let me know what you think of this new installment of Black &amp; Blue. Enjoy, everyone 3 :) **

Norma tossed and turned all night long, she probably only got an hour of sleep. Alex kept racing through her mind. She scolded herself, how could she have not seen this sooner? He was always there to protect her, he defended her, and he always looked at her with those kind, brown eyes. Was Alex attractive? Yes. Was he a good man? Of course. Was she sure her suspicion was correct? No. She decided that if he really liked her, he would make a move on her. When a man truly cares for a woman, they would do anything to make them their's, right? She smiled to herself as she got out of bed. If she was right, Alex must have felt a searing jealousy whenever George was around. She chuckled aloud. Alex Romero jealous.

As Norma made her way down the stairs that morning, the smell of bacon filled her nose. When she appeared in the kitchen, she found Dylan at the stove, sure enough he was cooking bacon and eggs. Norma smiled.

"What's all this?" she giggled.

"Eh, nothing, I just decided to make you breakfast" he gave her a warm, half-smile.

"Isn't that sweet" she said, her breath in her throat.

Dylan hadn't done anything this sweet for her in a long time, besides finding Norman that is. Where was he anyway? No, Dylan deserved her full attention. Wherever Norman was, he was probably fine.

"It's not problem" he said, handing her a full plate.

She hugged him tight and kissed his cheek.

She took a place at the table, but looked up at him with a confused face when she saw there wasn't a second place setting.

"Aren't you eating?" she asked, her eyebrows knitted.

"Actually, I need to talk to my boss, we are having some problems with business and have to come up with an idea of how to fix it. Apparently, I'm the only one who can help" he sighed, putting on his jacket, dropping a kiss on her head, and heading into the hallway.

"Thank you for breakfast, honey" she said, a smile on her lips.

"Your welcome, mom" he replied before heading out.

She raised a forkful of eggs to her mouth, she was about to eat them, until George's words popped into her mind. Chunky. If she was chunky she shouldn't eat so much grease, right? She got up and scraped the food off her plate and into the trash can.

* * *

When she headed into the front office for work, she found a file on the desk. There was a post it note plastered on top of it. She peeled it off and read it.

_"Norma, I was an asshole last night. I'm sorry. If you want to read this, you can, I suggest you do. If not, just leave it in my room. The money attached is for my stay, I'll be back later to get my stuff out of the motel"_ \- Alex

She folded the post it and slipped it in her pocket. She took the money from the file and placed it in the cash drawer. She sighed. Alex was leaving? His house couldn't have been re-built this quick. Truthfully, she liked having him stay at the motel, she had quicker access to safety. If he was leaving, she'd have to be on her guard all the time again.

She hesitated before reaching back into the file. When she pulled out the paper, her eyes drifted to the name at the top of the page. George Heldens. She emitted a nervous breath at the thought of his possible crimes. She read anxiously.

"George Heldens, tried for domestic abuse, all charges dropped"

She placed the paper down and shook her head.

Domestic abuse? That explains the violence and rude words. She thought he was bi-polar. Reading about his past abuse and offences, made her scared. She thought then, what if she brought it up to George? Maybe if he knew that she was aware of his criminal past, he would try to fix himself. She was still curious about why the charges were dropped. She figured that the Heldens were wealthy, they could have easily paid his ex wife off, warning her not to say anything that would land George in jail.

Just then, her phone buzzed, it was a text from George.

_"Can I come by tonight? Say around 9?"_ he asked.

She okay-ed his visit. When she saw him tonight, she would simply call him on his violent past, and he would be more cautious of how he treated her. She knew deep down, George was a good guy who wanted to take care of her, make her life better. George would improve and then they would have a happy relationship.

* * *

When 9 came around, Norma was anxiously awaiting him outside. She sat on the motel patio furniture thinking, as his visit got closer, she became more and more apprehensive. She kept thinking about how she was going to bring it up to him, how she would address it. Then again, it was just George, what was the worst he could do? Yell and walk out? Suddenly, headlights interrupted her deep thinking, it was George. He stepped out of his car and walked up to her. She rose and dropped a kiss on his cheek.

"Hey, how are you? How was your day?" she asked charmingly, she wanted to make sure he was in a good mood before bringing anything up.

"It was good, I got a raise" he smiled and dropped another kiss on her lips.

"Congratulations!" she announced cheerfully. He was bound to be in a good state of mind now.

"Thank you, baby" he said kissing her neck, his finger already undoing the top button on her floral dress.

"Um, George...can we talk for a minute, in the office?" she asked, nerves going to battle in the pit of her stomach.

"Sure. Did I do something wrong?" he asked confused.

"Just come with me" she said, taking his hand and leading him into the office.

She took a deep breath and locked eyes with him.

"What is it?" he asked, obviously getting impatient.

"Remember how you told me about your ex-wife?" she asked, grasping any amount of confidence she could.

"Yeah. Why?" he asked, his tone already becoming cold.

"George...did you used to hit her?" she asked quietly, easing into the question.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked loudly, moving so he was inches away from her face.

"I'm asking if you used to hit your ex-wife?" she asked, her voice gaining more volume as her frustration grew.

"How dare you!" he screamed, his face red.

She was about to open her mouth, but before she could say anything, he slapped her hard, across the face.

She started to stumble a bit, before he grabbed her arms, his fingernails digging into her skin, leaving bloody red marks.

She squeaked in pain.

"George, stop!" she yelled.

He hit her again, her cheek bright red.

"I should have figured you'd try to pull shit! Your a bitch!" he roared, fire in his pupils, dark undertones in his voice.

She trembled as she felt wet streaks falling down her face.

"Weak little bitch!" he yelled, punching her in the ribs.

She doubled over in pain, falling to the floor.

"Fucking whore!" he yelled, kicking her in the same place.

She gained enough strength to speak.

"Stop!" she screamed, her voice hoarse, laced with pain and anguish, her hands blocking her ribs.

He gave her a nasty look, and kicked her once more, this time in her back, right near her spine, she writhed in pain.

He spewed something nasty before slamming the door behind him.

She crawled under the desk, hiding in case he came back, she waited until she heard his engine roar and leave the parking lot before sobbing.

* * *

Alex was in room 9 when he heard a car door slam, and race away from the motel. He stepped outside then, a box full of his belongings in his arms. Something halted him as he began walking to his SUV. Crying, more like wailing. He dropped the box immediately when he figured it was Norma. He raced to the motel office. He swung the door open. Hearing her cry was torture to him, like his heart was being shattered into a million pieces. He figured it was George's car that sped off, they must have gotten into an argument. He didn't see her but he heard her, he walked closer to the back office, but soon found her under the desk. Her body was curled up like an infant. Her face streaming with tears and a bit of blood. He felt searing pain all throughout his body, Norma was in pain, she was bleeding, bruised, and trembling.

"Norma" he said softly, his comforting voice filling her ears.

He got down on his knees and looked at her. She lifted her head up, making eye contact with him. She cried, shaking her head silently before moving into his arms. He cleared the matted hair out of her face and clutched her tighter to his chest.

"Shh, it's okay Norma, I'm right here" he whispered, he leaned against the motel wall, her still shaking in his arms.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise"


	9. Kissing Her Scars

**Not much action going on in this chapter, but I think you'll all like it. Rated M. Please, please, please leave me some comments and let me know if you like it. I will be adding Caleb a little later in the story and I will be re-adding George in a few chapters or so. Anyway, hope you love it :) **

After a little while, Norma broke away, out of Alex's arms. She sat on the floor and looked at him. She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

"Was it George?" he asked sympathetically, his knees up to his chest, still resting up against the wall. His kindhearted eyes focused on her.

She nodded slowly, her her face filled with sorrow.

"Oh, Norma...I'm sorry" he said tenderly.

She looked at him then, seeing his caring eyes warmed her heart. How could she have not realized this all along?

"It's okay. He's an asshole, I should have listened to you in the first place. _I_ should be the one apologizing to _you_" she admitted.

"No, you don't have to. I understand, you thought he was a good guy" he said, empathy in his voice.

"Thank you" she exclaimed, a small smile leaving her lips.

"For what?" he asked surprised.

"This. You made me feel better. You're always there for me, Alex. Your like my personal Superman" she giggled.

"I'm no Superman" he scoffed comically.

"You are to me" she quietly appointed him.

He smiled at her.

She stood up, her hand resting on her ribs. Her face scrunched up in pain.

He rose with her, holding onto her arm.

"You okay?" he asked cautiously.

"Mmm...I'm fine. Just a little sore" she reassured him.

"I can drive you to the ER if you want a second opinion" he offered, a hand now resting on her shoulder.

"No, I'm okay. Thank you" she said, walking outside.

He followed behind her.

She glanced at his stuff on the ground.

"Are you leaving tonight?" she asked, turning to face him.

He got one look at the disappointment in her blue orbs and shook his head.

"Not anymore" he smiled, retrieving the box from the ground and bringing it back into his room.

She trailed behind him, taking a seat on his bed.

"Was your house restored?" she asked, resting her hands on the silky motel sheets.

"No not yet...I was going to stay at the Kings Motel, down the street" he explained, putting his items back in there rightful places.

"Why?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Well...I figured we'd been fighting so maybe it would have been best for me to leave" he replied, folding his t shirts and placing them in the dresser.

"Oh" she muttered.

He turned, flashing her a tiny grin.

"Can I ask you something?" she questioned, looking up at him, her big blue eyes shining.

"Sure" he said, sorting through more of his clothing.

"The other night, at the bar, you were telling me what I deserved before George stormed in. What were you going to say?" she muttered hesitantly.

"I was going to say...you deserved a lot better then George" he answered quietly, staring into her eyes.

She looked down at the floor and smiled.

"Yeah?" she asked, the smile still resting on her lips.

"Absolutely, Norma. You shouldn't accept anything but the best. Your a wild card, but your also really smart and beautiful" he declared, his face turning red.

Her heart soared when she heard his praising pronouncements. She had no idea he felt this way. The way he was looking at her was making her glow.

"You think so?" she asked, her heart beating so hard she could hear it in her eardrums.

"I do" he said, confidence coursing through his veins. He watched her as she rose from the edge of the bed and made her way over to him. She placed a hand on his chest, and looked up at him. She could hear his heart thumping as well. She traced his hand up from his chest and placed it on his cheek.

He slid his hand down to her lower back and leaned closer to her face.

Before she could pull his face closer to her lips, he stopped her.

"Are you sure?" he whispered, his hot breath against her cool skin.

She nodded and smiled slowly, leaning in again, placing her lips on his gently.

He held her hips in his hands, rubbing up and down slowly.

She wrapped her arms around the nape of his neck.

He unhurriedly slid his warm tongue inside of her mouth, she circled his with her own.

She could feel him, hard in his jeans, pressing into her through the cloth of her short dress.

She smiled at the feeling. He spun her around slowly. They broke the kiss and smiled at one another.

She glanced down at his erection and grinned.

"Alex" she exclaimed surprised.

She reached up and unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it to the floor, and raking her nails up and down his muscular build.

He shivered and relished the feel. She stopped and stripped her cardigan off, whipping it aside.

He took her waist in his arms and slowly kissed her neck, his tongue making hesitant circles on her skin.

She bit back a moan and his hands carefully moved and down her thighs. He lifted her and gently lay her on his bed, stripping her dress off.

He glared at the brown bruises on her stomach and rib cage. He gave them a pitiful look and kissed them all individually, she ran her fingers through her short hair, melting as his lips made contact with her body.

She reached down to unbuckle and unzip his jeans. He kicked them off, they fell to the foot of the bed.

He pulled back and took a minute to examine her body, despite the bruises, she was absolutely beautiful.

"Your gorgeous" he rasped, his eyes not missing a single part of her.

"You don't think I'm fat?" she asked quietly, sadness in her voice.

"Not at all...your perfect" he purred.

That was all Norma needed to hear, she took his head and pulled him back down to her, kissing him deeply, his hips pressed on hers.

"I need you inside me, Alex" she begged breathlessly, tugging at the waistband of his boxers.

He didn't need any further instruction. He slid her panties off and moved closer on top of her.

She reached into his underwear and grasped his erection.

He bowed his head in pleasure, groaning as she touched him, her warm touch on his desire for her.

Slowly, he moved into her, her wetness making it easy for him to slide in and out.

She threw her head back in arousal, moaning hungrily.

The sounds she made, making him groan in fiery passion.

Their hips grinding together, hands entwined.

He leaned down, his lips meeting her nipple. He lapped his tongue around it, making her nails dig into his back, her harmonious screams only driving him to try harder to keep them coming.

"F-Faster" she gasped.

He picked up the pace. Her breath hitched in her throat at the feel of frantic satisfaction.

"You feel amazing" he groaned, his head pushed against her collarbone.

She grasped his hips harder. Her touch scorching on his skin. She dropped a wet kiss on his shoulder, making goosebumps flare all over his body.

She held the nape of his neck, kissing his jaw.

As he moved faster, she buried her head into his shoulder, moaning in ecstasy.

"Cum for me, baby" he huffed in her ear.

She arched her back and held him tighter against her, she was close.

He jolted his hips eagerly.

"Fuck, Alex!" she cried out.

Norma shuttered, waves of uncontrollable pleasure rolling through her body, her eyes rolled back in her head as she hit her orgasm.

He felt his cock tighten around her clenching walls.

"Norma...yes" he groaned.

He grunted a final time and collapsed on top of her.

They felt white, hot heat between one another, they locked hands as they both tried to catch their breath.

"Your amazing" he praised short-winded.

"Your even better" she complimented.

They engaged in a sloppy, wet kiss before falling asleep, her head resting on his chest.


	10. No Further Questions

**For my wonderfully anxious readers. Please leave me some reviews, let me know what you think. Not a ton of action in this chapter, but the next installment will be a little more wild. Hope you all enjoy. Nalex is among us 3**

Alex woke up to find Norma still resting on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair, and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Her magnificent eyes fluttering open at the feeling of his lips on her. He smiled at her hazily.

"Hi" he said playfully.

"Hello" she replied, crawling back on top of him.

She busied her fingers with his chest hair.

"I had an amazing time last night" he declared, his hands resting on her lower back.

"I did too" she leaned up and kissed him again.

She was as addicted to his lips as he was to hers.

His hands fell on her cheeks, as she pulled away.

"Wanna take a shower?" he grinned seductively.

A devilish smile graced her pouty lips and she nodded.

She got up out of the bed, he followed her, taking her hips in his hands, lifting her up off her feet, which she soon wrapped around his waist.

He smirked and carried her into the bathroom.

They stood under the warm water, clutching onto each other.

"Can I tell you something?" she uttered, her eyes resting on his sweetly.

"Anything" he answered, his thumbs on her cheeks.

"I'm just really grateful to you for helping me the other night" she professed, her hands interlacing at the back of his neck.

"Well, you were in trouble" he said quietly, pecking her cheek.

"Alex?" she whispered into his water prickled chest.

"Yeah?" he replied, his eyes focused on the top of her head.

"I'm really happy you're here" she murmured, her lips against his skin.

* * *

As Norma watched Alex leave for work later that morning, she felt an emptiness, like part of her was being pulled away. She was grateful she made a move on him, she didn't realize she felt that way about him. Being with Alex was different from being with George and drastically so. Everything was the polar opposite , the way he spoke to her was gentle, he looked at her with kind eyes and a smile, and in bed he took his time with her, put her pleasure before hers. Thinking about him put a smile on her face, she knew he was going to make her happy. He respected and protected her.

Her thoughts on Alex were interrupted when she heard her ringtone go off in her pocket, she reached in and answered.

"Hello?" she questioned.

"Norma. It's George" he said, his voice sounding rushed almost.

She felt anger course through her veins, she scrunched up her face in hatred.

"Leave me alone" she replied scornfully, hanging up and tossing it next to her.

What could that asshole want? He showed his true intentions last night. Norma felt extreme fury when she looked back on their encounter. She felt the exact same way she used to with Sam. She swore he possessed George. She felt victimized, weak, and worst of all, hurt by someone who she honestly loved. She took a deep breath, not wanting to relive the past. She jerked her head to the side as she heard her phone ring again. She answered.

"Yes?" she said.

"Just let me explain-" George panted, sounding guilt ridden.

Norma quickly hit end on the call, fed up. She refused to fall for it again. She knew the cycle, hit, apologize, kiss, make up, and hit again. She'd had to deal with it since she was 11, from Caleb, Sam, and now George, she cringed at the thought of enduring more abuse. Caleb forced himself on her, and she'd been to little to protect herself. But when she fell in love with Sam, it was different, she knew she could end it, she just kept hearing the little girl inside of her screaming "No! He'll hurt you worse!" and she couldn't handle it. It was a different circumstance now that she had Alex, who would take care of her and defend her against her new abuser. She felt herself jump again, as her phone rang for the third time, she inhaled sharply preparing for another call from George.

"Hello?" she answered, about to blow.

"Hi" her expression and demeanor changed as she recognized it was Alex's voice over the other end.

She was so happy to hear him, she giggled like a teenage girl.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her face dreamy and soft.

"Nothing, just working on a file. What about you, everything okay?" he questioned.

She could her the protective nature of his voice, making her heart thump hard in her chest. She'd never had a man who so gallant towards her.

"Everything is fine" she replied, her tone sweet and reassuring.

Norma knew she couldn't tell him about George calling, it would only stir up another bad incident between the two.

"Good" he responded relieved.

"So, why are you calling?" she asked, already getting flirty.

"Honestly? I just wanted to hear your voice" he admitted sheepishly.

"Your so corny" she laughed, though her cheeks were filled with beet red adoration.

"I'm sorry" he mocked playfully.

"It's okay, I like it" she heartened.

"I like you" he flirted.

She giggled sultrily.

"I like you, too" she alleged seductively.

"And will you be up later tonight so I can see you?" he questioned with a heavy heart.

"Of course. Looking forward to it" she commented cheerfully.

"Wonderful. Bye, Norma" he dismissed her.

"Bye, Alex" she said, smiling at her screen as she hung up.

* * *

On his ride home that night, all Alex could think about was Norma, she was on his mind 24/7. He couldn't believe they'd actually had sex the night before, it was more amazing than he'd ever imagined and he had his fair share of fantasies. He was going to take it slow with her, he was in love with her, but he knew she didn't feel the same way yet. Norma had just got out of a tough relationship with that asshole George, he wasn't going to rush her, but he would charm her. Alex hadn't been in a relationship for a good two years, he wanted to make his newly formed union with her perfect.

As he pulled up to the motel, his heart beat faster and faster, he was so anxious to see Norma. When he opened the door to room 9, he thought he was going to explode.

Norma was posed on his bed, wearing only a blue and red lace thong and a matching bra.

His mouth dropped open and watered as he scanned her. She rose from the bed and stalked over towards him.

She kissed his lips hard and took his hand in hers, bringing him to the bed.

She moved so she was facing him, she gently pushed him back on the bed.

"Nor-"

"Shhh" she shushed him, placing a velvety finger on his lips.

He watched her as her hands moved towards his waist band.

She unbuckled and unzipped his uniform pants.

She reached into his boxers and pulled out his hard on.

She looked at it and licked her lips.

She bit her lip and looked at Alex, giving him a sexy smile, before slowly placing her tongue on the head of his cock.

He gasped in pleasure, as she hollowed her cheeks and swirled her tongue around on his length.

She moaned softly as she slurped.

"Norma" he moaned as he felt her flick her tongue back and fourth.

He wasn't going to last for much longer, he gripped the bed sheets and grunted as he dissolved into pleasure.

She came back up to face him, her lips darkened and wet with saliva.

He felt his insides ignite as she gave him a sultry smirk, and kissed his lips.

"What did I do to deserve that?" he asked, still trying to catch his breath.

"Don't question it" she giggled, dropping a kiss on his neck.


	11. Two Manhattans and A Demon

**Without further or do for my amazing readers, here is the 11th chapter. Enjoy :) **

Norma whistled as she stood at the front desk, she was incredibly content since her and Alex started hooking up. She had never been touched like that by a man before, so gentle and caring. Every time she though of Alex, she couldn't help but smile. She broke her blissful thoughts as she answered her cell.

"Hello?" she said.

"Hey Norma" Alex replied, his tone dreamy and love struck.

"Hi" she giggled softly.

Her laugh made Alex's heart flutter and beat a million times faster than usual.

"I was wondering if you wanted to get drinks later?" he offered.

"Well that depends, are you going to be there?" she flirted.

He smiled to himself.

"Certainly" he commented playfully.

"Then I'll be there too" she declared, an eager grin on her face.

He laughed aloud at her response.

"What? Your corny all the time, I wanted to see if it worked for me" she said, joining his giggles.

"It's cute when you do it. So...when do you want to leave tonight?" he asked happily.

"How about 7?" she asked.

"Sounds good, I'll see you then" he clarified.

"Okay" she smiled as she hung up the phone.

Just when she she placed her phone down, it rang again.

She picked up thinking it was Alex again.

"Hello?" she asked cheerfully.

"Norma?"

She didn't need to scan the number to know it was George.

"Stop calling me. Never contact me again. Do you understand?" she asked rhetorically, she clicked end and slammed the phone on the desk.

This was getting ridiculous, George never stopped calling her. Sometimes he called just to breath into the other end of the phone and hear her get upset. He was like her new stalker, she was hesitant to bring it up to Alex though, she didn't want him to worry, they were having a good relationship so far. She'd be damned if she let George wreck it.

* * *

Later that night, Norma waited outside for Alex to pick her up. She kept a look out for him as she felt her phone buzz in her pocketbook. She picked it up hesitantly.

"Yes?" she asked, obviously fed up.

"I really like that dress" George said darkly, chuckling.

Norma shivered and hung up on him.

She looked around her and glanced at her phone debating to call Alex, before she could, he pulled up.

She quickly shot into his car, scared that George may be closer than she thought.

"Hey" he said, leaning over and dropping a kiss on her cheek.

He looked at her, squinting as his eyebrows knit together.

"Norma, what's wrong? You look like you saw a ghost" he said, brushing a loose curl out of her face.

She smiled at him, still wanting to keep her experience under wraps.

She placed her hand on his.

"I'm fine, happy to see you" she said cutely.

"You too, you look beautiful" he said, observing her short, tight, black dress.

"Thank you" she grinned as she saw his eyes admiring her.

They went to the bar they were at the night Norma and George fought, as they pulled up in the parking lot, Norma felt a chill run up her spine when her eyes gazed at the brick wall she was slammed up against. She stared at it in distaste for so long, she didn't realize Alex had gotten out of the car and opened the door for her.

"You alright?" he asked, leaning closer to her.

"Fine" she said, as she crawled out of the passenger seat.

He took her hand and they walked inside, taking the same seats they were in last time.

"This looks familiar" she giggled.

He laughed too, keeping his eyes focused on her.

He set his hand on her back.

"What do you want?" he asked politely, as the bartender came over to them.

"Whatever your having will be fine" she smiled.

"Two Manhattans please" he ordered, handing him a few bills.

"Coming right up" he said, grabbing a few glasses.

Alex turned back towards Norma.

"So, how was work today?" he asked, making conversation.

"It was okay, not too busy, just a lot of cleaning...but I must say, the guest in room 9 keeps his stuff perfectly tidy, his bed sheets even smell like aftershave" she flirted, leaning closer to his face.

"How would you know what his bed sheets smell like?" he grinned.

She gave him a seductive smile before dropping a kiss on his lips.

They sipped the drinks placed in front of them.

Norma made a face when she drank hers.

"Strong" she announced, laughing as she swallowed.

As they got deeper into conversation, they heard a voice booming from behind them.

"Norma!" the voice yelled in cheer, as if they were happy to see her.

She didn't know many people in White Pine Bay, so she braced herself for whoever it was.

As she turned around, her heart dropped, her stomach twisted, and her eyes glazed over in fear.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

There was Caleb, standing in front of her, a big smirk on his face.

She cringed as he placed a hand on her arm.

"How are ya?" he asked, as though nothing was wrong, as if they were normal siblings.

Alex watched, taking note of the terror in Norma's eyes.

"Hey" he muttered, his hand returning to her lower back.

She flinched as he touched her.

"Who's this? Is he your boyfriend?" he asked, now intrigued by his little sisters personal life.

"You can't be here" she whispered in horror.

"Norma, c'mon, lets play catch up" he offered playfully.

She couldn't comprehend the situation, she was dead inside, numb.

"Stay away from me!" she yelled.

Caleb looked at her like she was crazy.

That smirk, she wanted to slap it off his stupid face, she knew it well. Whenever she was little and he touched her, he had that same look on his face, a look that said he wanted to do something devious, hurt her, and take great pleasure in doing so.

She rose from the bar stool and rushed out the exit.

Alex ignored Caleb and chased after her, he found her leaning against the car in the parking lot, frozen in panic and dismay.

He made his way towards her and faced her.

He ran a hand over her cheek.

"What happened? Who was that?" he asked, automatically wanting to help her, take all her pain away.

"No one...please just take me home" she said, her voice shaky, her eyes watering.

"Talk to me" he said, wondering why Norma wouldn't go into detail about what had just happened.

"Alex, take me home" she warned sharply.

"Norma, please you have to-"

"Alex! Just...you know what? Fuck it" she said, scoffing angrily and walking out of the parking lot, on the side of the road.

He raced after her.

"Norma" he said softly, but she wouldn't budge.

He worked hard to make Norma Bates his, he refused to loose her over a stupid argument. He took a sharp breath and cleared his throat.

"Norma, turn around!" he yelled, like he was talking to one of his criminals.

She could feel her eyes watering worse, she gritted her teeth and kept moving.

He ran closer to her, and grabbed her arm.

"Let me go!" she ranted, pulling her arm out of his grasp.

"Talk to me, please, tell me what's wrong..." he begged, trying to make eye contact with her.

She shook her head and broke down in tears.

He reached for her, holding her in a tight embrace, she lay her head on his chest and sob.

Alex brushed his fingers through her hair.

"It's alright, Norma...I'll take care of you" he hushed, not loosing his grip.

Hearing those words made her insides beam with happiness even though on the outside she felt like shit. She broke the embrace and looked up at him.

She brushed her thumbs over his cheeks, leaned up and kissed him, pulling away only to give him a sad smile.

"You wanna talk about it?" he asked softly, freely.

She felt a sudden brush of affection wash over her. She was starting to genuinely care for Alex, she wanted to keep him in her life. She decided that if she didn't let him in, there was no way he would stay with her, and that would crush her.

She nodded at his offer, though it pained her to talk about it.

"Will you take me home first?" she begged.

She couldn't be in the same area as Caleb, it sickened her, made her think of her past, something she never wanted on her mind.

Seeing the obvious pain in Norma's tragically ravishing blue eyes, he nodded.

"Of course" he agreed, dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead.

He took her hand in his and they walked back to the car.

Tonight, she would tell Alex everything.


	12. Protection

**Let me know how you like this new chapter. Love you all! Enjoy :) **

Alex and Norma pulled into the motel parking lot. They got out of the car, and Alex brought her into his motel room. They both sat on the bed, he rubbed small circles on her back.

"So, who was that?" he asked quietly.

She took a deep breath, she had to prepare herself, talking about her family was painful.

"He was...my brother" she sighed, pain and anguish in her voice.

"I take it you two had a falling out" he guessed, his hands still working at her back, an attempt to comfort her.

"No, Alex. When I was a little girl, he used to..." she started, her heart heavy, her eyes filling up with water again.

He turned back to face her, he kissed her cheek, and took her hand.

"Relax, you can tell me anything" he reassured her.

"My brother used to rape me, Alex" she explained, so frighted, her voice was almost a whisper.

"What?" he asked, shocked.

He knew there was something wrong with Norma. From the moment they met, he knew this woman had something to hide, a deep, dark secret. At that time, he wanted to prove her guilty. Now, all Alex wanted to do was help her, make her feel safe and protected...he was falling in love with her after all. He reached over and tugged her into his arms, dropping a kiss on her head.

"What about your parents? Didn't they know what was happening to you?" he inquired curiously, trying to delve deeper into her story.

"They didn't give a shit. My father was so, so violent, a monster. And my mother was sedated all the time, I barely spoke to her, she got into drugs right after I was born" she explained, obviously trying to hold her tears back, she wanted to stay strong for Alex.

"Norma...I had no idea. I'm so sorry" he said compassionately, tightening his grip on her.

She sniffled, burying her head into his chest, the smell of his cologne comforting her.

"So, did you move out?" he asked, his fingers twirled in her dirty blonde hair.

"I-I got pregnant with Dylan, he is Caleb's son" she stammered nervously, not sure how Alex would perceive her.

"Oh honey" he sighed sympathetically pecking her cheek.

"I just...I couldn't believe it when I found out. I knew I couldn't tell my parents or Caleb. I made my high school boyfriend, John, think Dylan was his, we went down to the courthouse and got a marriage license right away. I ran away from home with him, we moved to Arizona and raised Dylan for a little while...that is until I met Sam, Norman's father. I was so stupid to run off with him, we fought constantly, and it was incredibly violent. I mean John may have been distant but he never hit me" she scoffed, dropping her head in her hand, and clearing the hair out of her face.

Alex looked at her in shock. He couldn't believe all the information she was giving him. He felt such compassion for her.

"Norma, I couldn't even imagine. I'm sorry. You will never have to go through any of that stuff again, I'll always be here for you, and I'll never hurt you...I promise" he swore, kissing the top of her hand.

She gave him a grateful smile and gave him one final hug and kiss.

"Thank you so much, Alex" she said, squeezing his hand.

"You wanna sleep here tonight?" he offered, wiping a lone tear from her cheek.

She nodded and lay on his bed, in the fetal position, her face still filled with sadness.

He joined her and wrapped an arm around her middle.

"Everything will be okay"

* * *

Alex woke up that morning to Norma screaming into her cell phone, she must have assumed he was still asleep.

His thoughts immediately gravitated to Caleb, why would that son of a bitch call her?

He gently placed a hand on her upper back, she twisted to face him, her face red in frustration.

"Fuck you!" she screamed into the phone, pounding her finger on the end call button, and throwing it across the room.

She let out a loud huff and rubbed her temple.

"What's happening?" Alex asked cautiously.

"Nothing" she replied, obviously stressed out.

"Norma, you told me everything last night, you shouldn't be afraid to let me in anymore" he reassured her, sitting up in bed and dropping a kiss on her lips.

She couldn't say no to him, she caved.

"It was George" she admitted, feeling hatred from just saying his name.

"Why the hell is _he_ calling you?" he asked, enraged.

What would that asshole want with Norma? His Norma. He was there to protect her, if she would let him, he would love to beat the shit out of him for everything he said and did to her.

"I don't know, Alex. He's been calling me ever since that night we split, it's like he's obsessed with me or something. He's really scaring me...I just wish he would stop" she sighed, her head resting in her hand.

Alex rose from the bed then, he slid on a new pair of pants and shirt.

Norma watched him intently.

"Where are you going?" she asked, shooting up from the bed, and pacing behind him.

"I'm going to go take care of it" he said, opening the door to the motel room, and heading out.

She followed behind.

"What do you mean?" she asked, it was plain to see she was worried.

He turned to face her, cupping her cheeks in his hands.

He pressed her back gently against his SUV and planted a lingering kiss on her lips.

He pulled away and ran a hand through her hair.

She moved away, her eyes still transfixed on him.

He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Alex!" she yelled.

He rolled his window down and glanced at her.

"What?" he asked.

"Be careful" she warned, giving him a sad smile.

"I always am" he said, driving out of the motel parking lot.

As he drove, he kept glancing at the gun positioned on the passenger seat.

He was the town sheriff, he had power over everyone in this town, and he could get rid of anyone he wanted.

His anger and rage escalated as he pulled up to George's home.

He grabbed his gun and stuffed it in his jacket pocket.

He knew what he had to do.


	13. Little White Lies

**Sorry for the wait, here's the next installment of Black &amp; Blue. I hope you guys like it, please check out my other story Young Love, I'd love to know what you think and I'd really appreciate your reviews. Let me know what you think, enjoy (:**

Alex sucked in a deep breath before knocking on the door of George's articulate home.

George's face was filled with surprise and confusion when he saw him standing there, he raised an eyebrow at him.

"Sheriff Romero, is there something I can do for you?" he asked on edge.

Alex pushed past him and paced the floor of his house.

George turned to face him, still bewildered by his visit.

"What's going on?" he asked watching him with intent.

"I saw the bruises on Norma's back and ribs. Do you know anything about it?" he said, beginning his interrogation.

Alex knew he had to beat around the subject at first.

George slowly shook his head, a fake innocent look on his face, Alex saw right through him.

"I had no idea. Did she tell you about them?" he asked playing dumb.

"There pretty goddamn hard not to notice, she's covered in them" he explained, pain hitting his heart as he thought about the marks on her frail body.

"Well, I'm sorry I can't be of assistance" George claimed, a sly half smirk on his face.

Alex felt the anger bubble up inside of his, he brushed his thumb on the gun, making sure it was securely strapped to him.

"You expect me to just leave? You think I don't know that you've also been calling and watching her like some pathetic stalker" he scoffed, giving him the coldest glare he could manage.

"I'm telling you, I have no idea what your talking about" he sneered, his dark eyes darting at him.

Alex couldn't take it anymore, watching his stupid face and hearing him deny hurting Norma was driving him insane.

He hurried towards him, grabbing his arm and tucking it behind his back.

Alex slammed his body up against his wall.

George let out a groan and peered back to look at Alex.

"What the fuck do you think your doing?" he asked, signs of distress in his voice.

"Shut up!" Alex roared, kneeing him in the back.

He pressed his head harder against the wall, and lowered his mouth to George's ear.

"Now, you listen to me. If you _ever _go near Norma, call her, touch her, or even think about her, I will kill you. Do you understand me?" he growled, smashing his head against the wall once more.

Alex let go of him and turned towards the door.

"Why do you even care about her? She's nothing but a lying whore" he scorned.

In that moment, Alex snapped, he'd never felt that sort of hatred for anyone in his life.

He whipped back to him.

"You son of a bitch!" he roared in anger and angst.

Without thinking, he ripped the gun out of his jacket, and aimed for George's head.

He pulled the trigger.

Soon, George's body hit the wall, and his blood was coated everywhere.

Alex stood, looking at his lifeless body, clutching the gun in shock.

He shook his head and grabbed his walkie talkie.

"Deputy, we have a man down, killed in self defense" he said.

The device beeped.

"Be right there sir. Should I bring back up?" Deputy Lynn asked obediently.

"No back up needed"

* * *

White Pine Bay was a small town with plenty of secrets. As a sheriff, Alex had to keep a plethora of them.

Alex hated lying in his line of work, it made him feel immoral, honesty was one of the best things about him but under certain circumstances, he knew it was best that some things stay hidden.

Driving back to the motel, all he could think about was lying to his fellow deputies.

He told them that he went to George's house to question him about something, he got violent, so Alex shot him in self defense.

Luckily, making them believe him was incredibly easy. They were so obedient towards him, none of them would dare ask questions.

As he pulled into the parking lot, he felt a mixed sense of relief and fear. Sure George was gone, but what about Caleb? There was no question in Alex's mind that he would come back to mess with Norma, and he was definitely not going to let that happen. He couldn't kill another person, but he could certainly throw someone behind bars. He decided then and there that if Caleb went within 10 feet of Norma, he would have him detained and locked away for a very long time.

He shut his car off and got out, taking his phone out of his pocket and texting Norma, telling her that he needed to see her immediately.

When she didn't text him back, it made him worried.

He looked at the Bates home, her bedroom light was on.

Alex anxiously jogged up the numerous steps to her home and knocked at the door but no one answered.

He knew Norman couldn't be home from school yet, he turned back, looking in the parking lot.

He felt his heart drop as he saw Norma's car in the parking lot.

Waiting was agony, it just made him more and more worried. He finally twisted the doorknob open and walked inside.

He searched everywhere, her bedroom, the kitchen, the basement, and even Norman's room. There was no sign of Norma anywhere.

Running down towards the motel office, his fear grew, he called out for her over and over, but she never showed.

He reached for his phone again, clicking it on, with no texts from Norma. He called her, but it went straight to voice mail.

His heart was racing a million miles a minute, his breath shaky.

He stood thinking for a moment.

The back door. He never checked the back door leading to the kitchen in the Bates home.

He sped up the stairs with lighting speed and paced quickly to the back door.

Just as he expected, it was ajar, an obvious sign of forced entry.

Who would break into the home?

He ruled out Dylan because he and Norma were on good terms, and Norman wasn't a possibility, why would someone with a key break into their own house?

Suddenly, his heart felt like it was going to burst, his eyes widened like an owl in the night, he went frozen solid.

His conclusion would explain the break in and Norma being missing.

Caleb.

He knew he shouldn't have left Norma alone that morning, he was also well aware of the fact that Caleb wanted some kind of revenge against his little sister.

Alex ran back outside, and hopped back in his SUV, ready to investigate all of White Pine Bay to find Caleb.

There was no doubt in his mind that he had Norma, he had to find them before it was too late, before Caleb had done the unthinkable and finished her off for good.

He swore to her, he promised to protect her and keep her safe.

As the engine roared to life and he pulled out into the road, he knew he had to keep that promise.

He would find her, wreck Caleb, and make her feel secure for once in her life.


	14. Those Three Words

**Without further or do, here's my new installment of Black &amp; Blue. Let me know what you think. Enjoy (: **

As Alex drove his car through the streets of White Pine Bay, he felt fear course through his veins.

What could Caleb be doing with Norma?

He knew he had to save her from the trauma she suffered years ago as a teen.

Luckily, Alex knew where Caleb was staying, The Kings Motel. God knows Norma wasn't going to let him stay at her business.

He sped faster and faster until he reached the motel, it was gross, as vile on the outside as it was on the inside.

Alex remembered he spent one night at the dive when his house burnt down, laying down on the moldy, seamen covered mattress, he knew he had to invest in a room at the Bates Motel, despite his previous troubles with Norma.

Alex quickly parked his SUV in the first available space he could find, his heart was beating a million times a minute.

Looking around him, his heart dropped to find no cars around him, despite that he shut his engine off and made his way into the front office.

"Hello?" he called out, the office nearly abandoned.

"Yes?" a voice called, coming towards him.

He twisted his head towards the back office, to see a frail, graying woman approaching him, numerous dirty rags in her hand.

"Are all your rooms vacant?" he asked, scanning the place.

She gave him an anxious look.

"Who wants to know?" she asked smugly.

Looking down, Alex realized he was out of uniform, he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his badge.

She leaned towards the golden badge, squinting to read the identification, as she read, a small gasp emitted her thin lips.

"I'm so sorry, Sheriff" she apologized, cursing herself for questioning a cop.

"That's alright ma'am. Are all these rooms vacant?" he asked, his heart thumping louder and louder as he awaited her response.

She rushed over to her reservation book, placing her wire frame glasses over her dull green eyes, leaning to read the list of guests.

"Looking for someone in particular?" she inquired, still scanning the list of past and recent guests.

"Yes. I'm looking for a man named Caleb Calhoun" he claimed, his eyes locked on her scrawny fingers moving down the list of occupants.

"I have him staying in room 8, the last door on your right. Not too sure why you'd want to question him, seems like a good man to me. Always pays in cash" she chuckled putting the book back on the desk next to her.

"Thank you, ma'am" he said, leaving the office.

As he neared the door, he could feel himself shaking.

He banged on the wood filled with anxiety and fear.

"Open up, you son of a bitch!" he roared.

When there was no answer, he put his ear to the door, trying to hear any form of whisper or movement.

Alex could almost hear loud buzzing, mumbling almost.

He pounded on the wood again, but there was still no answer, he could hear the mumbling growing louder.

Placing his ear to the wood again, he tried to make it out...screaming?

Screaming. It had to be Norma, he didn't know what Caleb was doing to her at that point.

"Hold on honey!" he screamed into the wood, trying to break down the door with his shoulder.

He kept slamming the door, adverting all of his weight on it.

Pieces of wood disintegrated off the door, falling on the concrete porch at his feet, he was close to the inside.

Alex rammed the wood one last time, before the door fell open.

His shoulder was on fire but he didn't care.

He rushed into the motel, to find Norma right in front of him.

She was bound to a chair. Rope was tied around her waist, and duck tape held her hands behind the chair, there was also a strip over her mouth, muffling her screams. Her face and body was coated with blood, and she was stripped down to nothing but torn undergarments.

He rushed over to her, holding her face in his hands.

"I'm gonna get you out of here" he said, brushing his fingers over her skin.

He could see the tears of relief streaming down her face.

Alex tore the duck tape from her skin, gazing in horror and anger at the red marks it left.

He unraveled the rope from her torso, finally freeing her.

She struggled to stand from the chair, but Alex gave her his arm to clutch for support.

She turned to him, collapsing into his muscular build.

He ran his fingers through her matted hair.

"It's going to be okay" he whispered, slipping his jacket off and wrapping it around her still shaking body.

She clutched it around herself, trying to cover up, tears still streaming down her face.

He held her to his side, making their way out of the motel room.

They finally made it down the concrete steps and to Alex's SUV.

He lifted her into his arms, placing her in the passenger seat.

Alex walked around to the backseat, grabbing the blanket he thankfully had in there.

He returned to Norma, wrapping it around her.

He hopped in the drivers seat and took out his walkie talkie.

He reached over to clutch Norma's shaky hand, her head was rested against the window, her face robbed of all emotion.

"Deputy Lynn, we have a Caleb Calhoun staying at the Kings Motel in room 8. His charges include rape, assault and battery, and kidnapping" he listed off into the device, though his thoughts were solely on Norma.

"Be there ASAP sheriff. Name of victim?" she asked obediently.

"Norma Louise Bates. I'm taking her to the hospital now" he said, placing the device back in the holster, and pulling out of the parking lot.

He turned to Norma, her eyes still locked outside the window.

"Baby, I'm taking you to the ER, don't worry" he cooed softly, lifting her hand and dropping a kiss on the top of it.

"I'll take good care of you, I promise"

* * *

They pulled up to the ER. Alex got out of the SUV and went over to the passengers side.

He gently lifted Norma into his arms and walked inside, he placed her on a chair in the waiting room, dropping a kiss on her cheek.

"I'll be right back, baby" he said gently.

He made his way to the front desk of the hospital, still keeping an eye on Norma.

"Ma'am, my girlfriend needs to see someone" he claimed.

"What's wrong with her?" she asked, typing on her computer.

"She's been beaten and raped repeatedly" he explained painfully.

He hated thinking about what that bastard did to her, he hated explaining it even more.

"Okay, we'll get her in the examination room right way" she said, rising to her feet, a serious look on her face.

She walked over to the telephone hanging on the wall and placed a call.

"Dr. Moran, we have a woman in the waiting room. She's been attacked and raped. We need to get her to an examination room right away" she explained.

Alex watched her hang up the phone and make her way back to him.

"Sir, the doctor will be here any second to take a look at your girlfriend. What's her name?" she asked, ready to enter her information in the computer.

"Norma Bates" he said, keeping a look out for the doctor.

"We need you to fill this out" she said, handing him a clipboard.

He nodded and made his way back to Norma, sitting down next to her. Her face was still expressionless, her eyes held sadness. Alex placed his hand on her lower back, pain filling his heart as she flinched. She was obviously going to be scared by this experience. He couldn't imagine what she was going through. Raped as a teenager and now raped as an adult, by the same man. He exhaled a small breath and rubbed her back.

"Honey, can I ask you a few questions for your medical form?" he asked softly.

She turned to him and nodded.

He wanted nothing more than to hear her sweet voice.

"I already filled out your full name, but there are a few more things they need from you, okay?" he asked, maintaining the gentleness in his voice.

She nodded again.

"When is your birthday?" he asked, looking at the paper.

"March 3, 1974" she answered.

Alex was relived to hear her speak.

"You have two children, I know that" he mumbled, jotting it on her form.

He also filled out what happened to her, he wasn't going to ask her, she didn't need to relive that again.

"Weight and height?" he asked.

"124 pounds and I'm 5'5" she said.

"Baby, do you have any allergies?" he asked.

"I'm allergic to shellfish and pollen" she said, twisting in the hospital seat.

She didn't know how to feel, how to react to the events of that morning. Norma had only been sitting in the kitchen, reading the paper, and the next thing she knew Caleb charged inside and put duck tape over her mouth. He carried her out to his truck, shoving her in the backseat. She was shocked that no one was outside to see him capture her. All she remembered was him pinning her on the bed, raping her over and over, in every way possible. He bound her to the chair, to make sure she didn't go anywhere. That's when Alex came in, her personal hero struck again. She looked over at him, and took his hand, leaning over to kiss his cheek. He glanced back at her, giving her a hug, tighter than ever before.

Alex held onto her for dear life. He realized how close he came to loosing her that day, Caleb easily could have killed her. He knew they hadn't been together that long, but he wouldn't know how to handle it if she was killed. He knew he couldn't live without her.

"Hey" he whispered.

"What?" she asked, her hand running through the back of his short hair.

"I love you Norma...so much" he said, kissing her cheek.

Her heart beat faster at his deceleration, she didn't know Alex felt that way. He knew he liked her...a lot, but she had no idea how serious he was about her.

She thought about it, Alex came to her rescue, not just today, but all the time. She couldn't count the amount of times he had gotten her out of trouble. He even saved her son.

"I love you too, Alex" she said, gently kissing his lips.


	15. Aftermath of Terror

**So, here's the next chapter of Black and Blue. Sorry for the wait, hope you guys like it. Please let me know what you think, reviews are highly appreciated, they really make my day. Enjoy (:**

While Norma was in the examination room being taken care of, Alex sat and waited for her.

His cell phone rang in his pocket, he rushed to answer it, not wanting to disturb the other waiting room patients.

"Sheriff, we got him" Deputy Lynn said, accomplishment soaking her voice.

"Where is he now?" he asked professionally.

"We're holding him until we can schedule a court date" she informed him.

"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow to talk to the judge, and I'll have a police report done tonight" he claimed, his eyes transfixed on the examination room door.

"Yes Sheriff" she said, hanging up.

Alex was relived that Caleb was behind bars, he couldn't touch Norma anymore.

Suddenly, Norma exited the room and stood by him.

He rose immediately, taking her in his arms, slowly swaying her back and fourth.

The doctor stood behind Norma, piping up making them break the embrace.

"Sheriff, may I speak with you?" she asked gently.

"Of course. Norma, I'll be right out" he reassured her, dropping a kiss on her delicate skin before following the doctor into the examination room.

Once she closed the door, Alex was ready to ask a plethora of questions.

"How is she?" he asked anxiously, fiddling with his hands.

"Well, she had a lot of abrasions to her skin and she's been raped several times. I didn't take any samples because you informed me earlier that you already found her assailant" she explained, looking over the medical forms.

"Will she be okay?" he asked, a pair of worried, watery eyes watching her.

"She's going to be fine. I gave her some medication for the pain or soreness she will feel. I also recommended some wonderful counselors for any emotional suffering she may face. Right now, I would instruct you to make sure she's comfortable for the next couple weeks, talk to her about what happened if she lets you in on her attack. If she needs any more assistance, she can come back here or call me with the number I gave her" she said, handing him a pamphlet with a list of helpful therapists and emergency numbers.

"Thank you, doctor" he said, shaking her hand.

He turned and left, making his way back to Norma.

"Hey sweetie, ready to go home?" he asked sweetly, rubbing her lower back.

"Yes" she answered quietly, taking his hand as they walked outside.

"Alex? Can I ask you a favor?" she wondered, her eyes still big with fear.

"Anything baby" he answered, stopping abruptly, looking at her with full attention.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" she begged, clutching onto him.

"Of course. I'll stay with you for as long as you want"

* * *

Alex was relieved when he finally got Norma home and set up in her room. He was pleased to see she was resting in bed, dawning her most comfortable pajamas. Despite seeing her semi-relaxed, he felt pain shoot through him whenever she moved or twisted in bed and she scrunched her face up in pain. He knew it was from the numerous attacks. Her medication wasn't doing much for her at all. He watched her as she made the agonized facial expression once again.

"Hun, do you want me to call the hospital...maybe get you some stronger meds?" he offered, pulling on one of his famous black t-shirts.

"No, the doctor said it might take longer for the medication in the pills to work" she explained, putting her hair in a ponytail.

He nodded and walked towards her bed, crawling in and looking into her eyes. He reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair into her elastic.

She put her hand on his, gripping it securely, a small token of appreciation was all she could manage. Alex savored her soft touch.

Alex moved closer to Norma, entwining her in his strong arms. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to make her feel safe and sound.

All she could do was curl up in his arms, thankful for his hold on her. She wasn't sure what she would do if he weren't there today. Norma knew for sure she wouldn't be alive, Caleb would have killed her. She couldn't began to comprehend what had happened that day. When it was happening to her she kept thinking it was some fucked up nightmare. The more Caleb pinned her down, raped her, and yelled profanities in her tear streaked face, the more it became apparent to her that it was happening. After constant years of fear and looking over her shoulder, Caleb came back and was ready for some kind of twisted revenge for leaving the house, hiding the fact that she was pregnant with his son. What was she to do? Tell everyone, including her absentee mother and hard drinking, abusive father, that she was knocked up with a baby, something that's supposed to be beautiful, but in her case, a product of countless rapes that she endured for years from her own brother? Once Norma skipped town with John and an unborn Dylan, she knew there was no going back. The feelings of hostility and hatred towards Caleb had never changed, except when Dylan was born. When she held him for the first time, a beautiful, squealing newborn, she felt a love she never had before...all hatred and animosity towards anyone and everyone drifted away. Dylan was her whole world for the remainder of her teenage years, the good years where Dylan would actually need her, call her mama, and give her hugs for no reason. All Norma wanted was to be happy and feel needed. With Alex holding her now, it did give her some joy. He made her shitty life better. How could she feel so good in Alex's arms but at the same time feel so dead inside? Damn that Caleb...she hoped he burnt in hell for everything.

She dug her head deeper into his chest, the smell of his cologne incredibly comforting to her.

Norma still felt intense pain from the numerous attacks she received from Caleb.

Alex looked down on her, she seemed like she was ready to drift into sleep.

"I love you" he whispered, watching her eyes flutter closed.

"I love you too, Alex...so much, you have no idea" she proclaimed, sadness still apparent in her voice.

He clutched her tighter to him. At that moment, his heart swelled in good and bad ways. On one hand Norma just told him that she loved him a lot, and on another he still couldn't push Caleb and his vicious attacks out of his mind. Though he didn't want to, Alex knew he had to go down to the courthouse the next morning and tell the judge of Caleb's case. There was no way Norma would agree to face that son of a bitch in court and Alex couldn't blame her. He was ready to watch the judicial system take Caleb down, he would be locked behind bars for the rest of his life, and Norma would never have to live in fear again.

Alex was relived to watch Norma drift to sleep silently.

He leaned down towards her ear to whisper something ever so gently, so faint she probably wouldn't even hear it.

"I'll take care of everything"


	16. In Treatment

**I am so sorry it's taken me a while to update, I had a classic case of writers block. I think you guys will feel pleased with the suggestions incorporated in this chapter. I enjoyed writing it a lot more than I thought. I really want to know what you guys think, leave me some reviews and let me know. Praying you guys like it. If you guys haven't checked out my newer story Young Love yet, give it a spin, you may like it. Anyway, enjoy :) **

At around 3 am that night, Norma had the most horrific nightmare...

_Norma looked at her surroundings, coming out of a deep sleep. She appeared to be in a small chamber, when she tried to move she realized her hands and feet were chained to the wall. She writhed, trying to shake out of the cuffs. _

_"Help! Get me out of here!" she yelped, already frighted. _

_Norma shook and screamed, letting her back fall against the cold metal wall in terrified defeat. _

_Suddenly, the door to the chamber squeaked open, and to her horror, Caleb stepped inside. _

_He locked the door behind him, the click making goosebumps flare on her skin. _

_Caleb wasted no time making his way over to Norma, getting on his knees, facing her. _

_"No..." she started, her eyes dilated with tears, her lips trembling. _

_He clamped his hand over her mouth, while she tried to kick. _

_No!" she tried to yell over the force of his hand. _

Suddenly her nightmare ended and she shot up in bed screaming. She shook violently, cold sweats running down her body.

Alex woke up to the sound of her shrills, disoriented. He sat up immediately and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him.

She thrust her head into his chest, sobbing, tears rolling down her cheeks and soaking his t-shirt.

He held her shaky body and kissed the top of her head.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked concerned, clutching her to him.

"I hate him" she groaned through the violent sobs.

"Shhh baby, you'll never have to see him again. I promise you" he kissed her cheek, wiping the still falling tears with the pads of his thumbs.

Her body still shook with sobs, Alex rubbed her back slowly.

He tried his best to comfort her, feeling relief once she calmed down, her head still resting on his chest.

"What do you think about seeing one of those specialist's that the doctor suggested?" he asked, looking into her tired, sad eyes.

"Oh Alex, I don't want to see another therapist. Last time I went I felt trapped...like I needed to lie to him in order to keep him from judging me" she explained, draping an arm over his shoulder.

"You've been to a therapist?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, last year. I um...I got in his face and told him off" she admitted sheepishly.

"Well I wouldn't worry about it, you can always go to someone else. And you shouldn't worry about being judged. They are trained to hear all types of stories, the good, the bad, and the ugly" he exclaimed, kissing her temple, and running his fingers through her hair.

"I still don't know. The only people I've told about my...ordeal, is Dylan, Norman, and well...you" she muttered, looking at him with a pair of worried eyes.

"What if I went with you?" he offered, propping her pillow.

"Alex, you really don't have to -"

"I want to, Norma. I love you...that means I'm going to stick by you through all of this. Honey, what you went through was awful, it would be really good if you went to a professional to help you with trauma. They won't judge you, I won't judge you, no one will" he promised.

She pulled him into a tight hug.

"I love you too, Alex. If it would make you happy...I'll go" she sighed, pulling away to look at him.

He dropped a kiss on her lips, giving her hand a quick, tight squeeze.

"And you'll stay with me the whole time?" she asked.

"Of course I will" he swore, kissing her one last time before they fell asleep.

* * *

A few days later, Alex was able to make an appointment with the best sexual abuse therapist in White Pine Bay.

The morning of their appointment, Alex made his way to the Bates home, knocking on the front door.

Norma appeared only a minute later, making her way outside with him.

He took her hand, holding it all the way down to his SUV.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, kissing her cheek.

"It's weird. Sometimes I feel so angry I think I might just snap and then other times I feel normal...I just don't know what to think" she sighed sadly.

"I'm sure that's normal, what you went through was horrible honey. The woman I'm taking you to is a sexual abuse victim as well, she has two degrees in physiology and one in woman's studies. She's anxious to meet you" he explained, clutching her hand again as they sat in the car.

"What's her name?" she asked randomly.

"I'll give you a hint...she's named after a spice" he grinned, tapping the steering wheel.

"Uh...cinnamon?" she guessed, her eyebrows crinkled in confusion.

"Maybe if she was a stripper. Her name is Sage" he chuckled.

She scoffed, tapping his arm.

"Sage is a herb" she laughed lightly.

"I haven't seen you smile in a while...it's good to see" he said, a half smile growing on his face.

She picked up their intertwined hands and dropped a kiss on the top of his.

"I love you" she said quietly, a small smile gracing her lips.

"I love you, too" he replied sincerely.

"Let's go" he said, starting the engine.

* * *

When they arrived at the therapist's office, Norma felt waves of apprehension fly throughout her stomach. She had no idea what to do, she'd lied so many times in her life to a lot of people. She knew she had to let more people in and Alex was a good first step. She took a deep breath and walked into the doctor's office, Alex following closely behind, making her feel more secure than ever.

The therapist approached her, outstretching her hand, a peaceful smile on her face.

She had a Bohemian style, kind green eyes, and long pale blonde hair.

"Hello, I'm Sage Robertson, it's really good to finally meet you Norma" she smiled, shaking her hand.

"Thank you, Dr. Robertson" she smiled, feeling Alex's lower hand on her back.

"Please call me Sage, I like to keep things friendly with my patients, it breaks down the wall of professionalism" she said, giving Norma the warmest smile she'd ever seen.

"That's clever" she commented, her eyes wandering around the office.

"And you must be Alex" she greeted, shaking his hand as well.

He nodded, gripping her hand.

"Its nice to meet you" he smiled.

"You as well. Why don't the three of us take a seat and we'll talk a little bit" she motioned to a sofa cushioned in the corner of her office.

They nodded and sat down, Sage sat across from them in a leather chair, her notebook open on her lap.

Norma took a deep breath, preparing herself for questions.

"So Norma, why don't you tell me about your childhood?" she asked calmly, watching her facial expression change.

Alex rubbed small circles on her lower back, knowing it would calm her down.

"Remember I want you to be completely open with me...or else I can't help you" she comforted her, giving her time to breathe.

She emitted a small, shaky breath from her pouty lips.

"Well...my dad and brother were incredibly abusive" she admitted, fiddling with her hands.

"How so?" she asked quietly, writing down what she said.

"My dad just hit and screamed. My brother...his abuse was solely sexual" she sighed, biting her lip, her eyes watering.

Alex pulled her closer to him, trying to make her feel safe and protected, the things Norma longed for.

"Was your father there to witness the sexual abuse?" she inquired, observing Norma's shaky body.

"No...my brother always hid it, he would typically do it when...when um" she started, feeling the tears stream down her face.

Sage gave her a box of tissues, she thanked her silently, and wiped the tears, regaining her composure.

"My brother used to do it when my dad was at work and my mom was passed out" she claimed, sniffling, and clutching Alex's hand.

"How long did the abuse go on for?" she asked, crossing her legs.

"Until I got pregnant with my son Dylan...I was around 16" she revealed.

"And your son is your brother's child?" she asked, Norma was pleased at how neutral her voice stayed, looks like she really has dealt with a lot of cases.

She nodded slowly, straightening out her dress.

"Did you tell your brother?" she asked, still writing the information down.

"No...I told my boyfriend at the time that Dylan was his. We left Ohio soon after I told him and settled down in Arizona" she explained, focusing on her breathing.

"And how did you feel after your son was born?" she questioned, her eyes trained on her notebook.

"Well throughout the pregnancy I was scared...even though I was out of my house and away from my brother I felt like his presence was always there. And then when Dylan was finally born...I felt good, despite the fact that he was the product of something...awful. I felt like I had a purpose, like there was someone out there that finally needed me" she said, her heart swelling at the thought of Dylan when he was a newborn.

"Sometimes it just feels good to be needed" she said.

"It did" she admitted.

"Do you have any other children?" she smiled.

"Only one, Norman...he's the greatest teenager anyone could ask for" she said, forgetting about his black outs and only thinking about all the times he comforted her.

"Is his father in the picture?" she asked, locking eyes with Norma.

"No...Norman's father passed away two years ago, it was a fatal car accident" she claimed, emotionless.

"How was your relationship with Norman's dad?" she inquired.

"Not good...he was abusive too" she said without thinking.

Norma realized how easy it was to talk to Sage once she got used to it.

"I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been hard...growing up with an abusive father and brother and then having an abusive partner" she sympathized.

"It was...Sam wasn't the ideal father. He was lazy, he never lifted a finger when it came to Norman, and he was totally unemotional" she explained.

"How was your relationship with your boyfriend you had as a teenager?" she questioned curiously.

"John, he was wonderful...the one guy I was with that caused no harm to me. Except Alex" she looked over at him and smiled.

He grinned back at her, happy she was able to talk about her past, he was incredibly proud of her.

She smiled at the both of them, placing her pen down on her desk.

"Did your son protect you from your abusive partner?" she asked, changing the subject back to Sam.

"Norman is very sensitive, I never wanted him to witness the attacks, I would always tell him to go to his room or outside when I knew Sam was going to get violent" she explained, clearing her throat.

"I see. And did you ever try to have any more kids?" she asked softly.

Norma felt her heart drop, her pulse race, and she began to sweat. She was making such good progress...it was now or never.

"I had a miscarriage...about five years ago"


	17. Getting It All Out

**I really couldn't ask for better readers, you guys have made me love writing and adding more to this story. Please follow one of my favorite readers on Twitter, her handle is: CaitlinW_007, she's a big Bates fan and a Normero shipper. Enjoy this chapter! Xoxo - MJ123 **

Norma straightened her posture and felt her heart beat slow down after her reveal, she could tell Alex was shocked, she didn't need to look at him to know.

"I see. What was that like?" Sage asked, giving her full attention.

"Well...with Sam and I's relationship the way it was, we certainly weren't planning on having another child, it just kind of happened. I found out when I was two months along and when I told Sam, he couldn't have cared less. He told me that if I was planning on keeping the baby I would have to move out of the house. A few weeks after, I miscarried...I always figured it was the stress he put on me" she explained, feeling tears in her eyes again, she wouldn't let them fall.

"You are probably right, pregnant woman should avoid stress at all costs...especially from their families. Though your relationship with Sam was a mess, how did you feel when you found out you were pregnant?" she asked, trying to uncover her full story.

"To be completely honest, I was almost happy. I had nothing going on at that time and whenever I though of having a baby, it seemed like everything was going to be okay...I love being a mother. Loosing the baby was certainly heartbreaking" she admitted, trying to keep her cool.

"How did Sam react?" she asked, placing her glasses on top of her head.

"He didn't really. He brought me to the hospital the night I lost the baby. I got the news, cried and cried. Sam just drove me home like nothing happened, the baby never even really existed to him" she sighed.

"That's awful. I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through it. You know it's not your fault you lost the baby right?" she asked.

"I always felt like I was to blame...because I was supposed to take care of that baby and make it feel safe" she whimpered, wiping her eyes.

"It's no where near your fault, Norma. It's never the mother's fault. Your abusive husband gave you an impossible ultimatum...it's natural that your thoughts were completely focused on what he told you. In a way you were protecting your baby, you were thinking about where you were going to go once it was born right?" she questioned.

"I suppose" she concluded confused.

"Well there you go, you had your unborn child in mind the whole time" she smiled.

She nodded, watching her intently.

"One last question?" Sage asked looking at her wall clock.

"Anything" Norma replied, feeling strong.

"If John was so good to you, why did you leave him for Sam?" she asked.

"Well, John was a great partner and father to Dylan. But when I met Sam...he was everything John wasn't. Sam was charming, sweet, and gave me his full attention. Leaving John was one of the stupidest things I ever did, it wrecked my relationship with Dylan as well. Luckily he has such a big heart, we patched things up a few months ago, we've been pretty close ever since then" she smiled, loving the fact that she reconnected with Dylan.

"That's wonderful! That's a huge step in the right direction, Norma" Sage said cheerfully, an adoring smile on her face.

"Thank you" she cooed, a tiny smile on her face.

"Unfortunately, that's all the time we have. Next session, I think we should talk about what happened to you recently. Your attack. Would that be okay?" she asked cautiously.

"I think it would be for the best" she agreed, rising up off the sofa, Alex joining her.

Norma made her way towards Sage, outstretching a hand.

"I really can't thank you enough" she praised, giving her the kindest smile she could manage.

"It's my job to help you Norma. We are going to make some wonderful progress. I am so impressed that you were able to open up" Sage grinned, shaking Alex's hand also.

"Nice meeting you, Alex" she smiled, making her way back to her seat.

Alex and Norma left the office, walking out into the hallway, and shutting the door behind them.

"Norma, I'm so proud of you" he said in awe, dropping a hand on her back.

She smiled at him and shrugged.

"It was nice to talk to someone who can relate" she commented, leaning closer to him as they walked.

"I never knew you had a miscarriage, I'm so sorry honey" he sighed, stopping her once they got outside.

She pulled him to her, clutching him like a lifeline.

"I love you so much" she crooned as he swayed her back and fourth.

"I love you too" he smiled, kissing her lips softly.

They got in the car and pulled out of the lot.

"Do you want to go get lunch?" he offered, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I'd love to" she smiled.

* * *

They went to a small bistro and sat comfortably outside.

"Did you ever think we'd be here a two years ago?" she asked, sipping water from her glass.

"Honestly? No. That night we arrested you...us getting together was the furthest thing from my mind" he chuckled, straightening the napkin in his lap.

"Hell, I can't argue. I thought you hated my guts" she smiled.

"Never. I never hated you. You annoyed me. But you were so...cute" he admitted, his cheeks glowing.

"I was?" she smiled, crinkling her nose sweetly.

"Yeah. And of course I thought you were gorgeous" he revealed, taking her hand across the table.

"Well, I thought you were pretty handsome" she giggled flirtatiously.

"What can I say? I just roll out of bed like this" he smiled, brushing a hand through his hair.

"Shut up" she chuckled, swatting the top of his hand.

"You know, I thought you were completely into Zack when we first met..." he admitted, chewing his sandwich.

"Zack was a bit more of a temptation...he was so much younger that me. I guess it just felt good to get attention from such a young guy. He's nothing like you though" she smirked.

"And then there was George...I'm so happy I got you away from that asshole" he muttered, still vengeful towards him.

"I can't thank you enough for that" she smiled.

"It's my job to protect people who are in distress" he commented, eyeing her carefully.

"Is that always want you wanted to do? Be a police officer?" she asked curiously, resting her chin in her hand.

"Always. My grandfather was a police officer and he would always take me for rides in his cruiser when I was around 6 or 7...watching him do his job inspired me to follow in his path" he reflected smiling.

"That's sweet. I take it you two were close?" she asked, poking at her salad.

"Incredibly, he was more of a friend to me. He saw my father was a total fuck up and he and my grandmother won full custody of me" he replied, clearing his throat.

"I didn't know that. What was wrong with your father?" she asked carefully, not wanting to hurt him.

Alex sighed, taking a deep breath before his explanation.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" she muttered, holding onto his hand.

"No, you opened up so much today, it's only fair I tell you about me. My father was a big drunk...one night he met a woman at a bar, they got really drunk and slept together. I was the unexpected product of their one night stand. They stayed together throughout her pregnancy and once she gave birth to me, she left my father. They never spoke again. My dad told me she was a good person, but she had a lot of different problems going on. I lived with him up until the time I was 4 years old. I can't say he raised me...lots of times he would just leave me home alone or drop me with a neighbor. One day, he left me with my grandparents and didn't come back for four days, no phone calls or anything. When he did come back for me, he reeked of liquor and appeared to be on some kind of narcotic. My grandfather kicked him out of the house and took him to court two weeks later, when he won custody of me, I never saw him again" he explained, avoiding eye contact with Norma.

"I would have never guessed it was like that..." she began sadly, getting up to sit closer to him.

She took his head in her hands, dropping a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm sorry, Alex" she cooed sincerely.

"I'm just really thankful my grandparents were there for me...I'm not sure where I'd be right now if they weren't there for me" he replied, stroking the back of her hand.

"Are they still alive?" she questioned, raising her eyebrows.

"Unfortunately, my grandmother passed when I was in college and my grandfather died shortly after I moved here" he sighed sadly.

"Sorry to hear that. I'm sure they were amazing people" she smiled, running her hand through the hair at the back of his head.

"They were" he grinned, pulling her towards him for a kiss.

"What about your mother, though?" she asked.

"Oh...I looked for when I was a teenager. When I tracked her down, she was living in a crack house...didn't even know who I was, not even when I introduced myself" he said, his eyes watering slightly._  
_

Norma hugged him then, not as a girlfriend, but as a sign of comfort, assuring him that she was there.

"It's okay" she muttered, kissing his head.

He pulled away and looked into her eyes, brushing the hair out of her face.

"I'm so happy I can talk to you" he grinned, his hand resting on her lower back.

"Me too"

**Guest or account holder, let me know what you think. Thanks for reading (;**


	18. I Think I Love You

Norma exited Alex's SUV later that night, making her way over to the drivers side, and dropping a gentle kiss on his lips.

"I feel really good that we opened up to one another today" she smiled, kissing him two more times on the cheek playfully.

"Me too" he replied, swaying her hips back and fourth in his hands, looking into her crystal blue orbs.

"Why don't you let me walk you to your door, it's pretty dark out" he offered, hooking arms with her.

Norma didn't reply, she just lay her head on the side of his arm, smiling peacefully.

They finally made their way to her front door, when she suddenly turned to him.

"On second thought, do you want to come in for some coffee?" she grinned, opening the door with her house key.

"I'd love too" he accepted slyly, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.

"It's going to be really challenging to put on a pot of coffee with your lips latched to me" she giggled, spinning towards him and smiling.

He gave up and slid his hand in hers as they walked into the kitchen.

The pair were immediately and unexpectedly greeted by Dylan, all Norma could do was stand speechless as his eyes drifted to her and Alex's interlaced hands.

He stood in front of the pair, a sandwich in his hand, looking at them while chewing.

"What's this?" he asked, nudging his head up at their still entwined hands.

"Um...we're kind of...dating" she answered coyly, a small smile creeping on her face.

"That's cool" he answered calmly, walking back to the kitchen table, retrieving his dirty dish and placing it in the sink.

Dylan walked back to face the two, he cleared his throat. "Well...I guess I'll leave you two kids alone" he grinned, exiting the kitchen and soon enough the house.

When he heard the front door close, Alex immediately turned to Norma, an almost angry expression on his face.

"You didn't tell him we were dating? Don't tell me you haven't told Norman..." he huffed, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.

"Well...I didn't know how they would react" she shrugged innocently, starting her coffee maker.

"Norma, we've been dating for a month now. One would think you would tell the closest person to you" he said, taking a seat at the table.

She took two coffee mugs out of the cabinet and sighed, dropping them on the counter.

"Look, I'm just a little on edge...I don't know how Norman is going to take the news" she replied, already frustrated from Alex's anger.

"Take the news? Norma, he's a seventeen year old boy" he claimed.

"You don't understand" she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

"What? Are you afraid? Or...are you ashamed that we're dating?" he asked, immediately sounding offended.

"Alex..." she started sternly.

He stood from the table, walking into the hallway. Norma quickly sprinted after him, clutching his arm before he could get his hand on the doorknob.

Alex just glared back at her. "Where are you going?" she asked sadly, her eyes holding self disappointment.

"I'm tired. I'm going to head to my room" he huffed, she didn't stop him as he walked out side.

She slid back against the front door, placing her head in her hands. Norma knew she should have told Norman that she was dating Alex, but she couldn't risk his safety. Her son was overly protective of her and would have no problem taking Alex down. She sat conflicted, if she broke it off with Alex she'd be able to protect him from Norman's rage, but if she continued to see him, Alex could get hurt...severely.

Norma headed back to the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of coffee and sitting at the kitchen table. She wanted nothing more than to head down to Alex's room and collapse in his arms.

"Mother?" she heard suddenly, snapping her head forward to see Norman walking into the kitchen.

She knew he couldn't see that she was upset, he would just worry. Norma stood up and pulled him into a tight hug. "Hi, honey" she cooed, kissing his throat.

"I've missed you, mother" he said sweetly, his voice as pure as ever.

"I know Norman, me too" she grinned. "Do you want me to make you some hot chocolate?" she offered, already moving towards the lone pan on the stove.

"That sounds good" he smiled, taking Norma's vacant seat at the kitchen table.

"I remember when you were younger. You would have these weird nightmares, always running to me in the middle of the night. I would always get up and make you hot chocolate" she giggled, putting the hot water on to simmer.

"Yeah and you used to put "magic dust" in the mix to keep the monsters away" he chuckled, now playing with a loose thread on his sweater. "What was that anyway?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, it was just a pinch of cinnamon" she turned back to him, smiling, placing the hot mug in front of him.

She took a place across the table from Norman, watching him sip from the mug slowly.

After a few moments of silence, she figured it would be best to ease into the honest truth. Norma and Alex were happily together and that's all that mattered. She felt so good telling the truth to Sage and Alex, she couldn't pass up being honest with her own son. She cleared her throat uneasily.

"Norman?" she asked softly.

"Yes, Mother?" he replied attentively, gazing at her with his sweet green eyes.

"Honey, you know I love you right?" she smiled, placing her hand on his across the table.

"Of course mom. And I love you, your everything to me" he grinned appreciatively.

All she could do was carry the same big smile on her face, grateful for such a wonderful son. Though Norman's blackouts were still a problem, that didn't mean she loved him any less.

She sighed in nervous anticipation. "Can I tell you something?" she muttered.

"Anything in the world, mother" he answered, drinking from his cup.

"Well...it's just that...I've been seeing someone" she admitted, a hand drifting to the back of her head.

"I see. Who?" he asked, his expression neither happy, angry, or sad.

"Sheriff Romero" she sighed, biting her lower lip.

"Do you love him, mother?" he asked.

That question made her sink a little bit. Did she really love him? He had always been their to comfort her and cover for her. There was something about the way Alex looked at her, like she was the only woman in the world. He treated her with the utmost respect, something she wasn't used to from men. Whenever she saw Alex, her stomach twisted in knots.

A weak smile graced her lips as she nodded slowly. "I think so" she whispered, laughing at the admission.

"Well...I suppose that's the only thing that matters. If he is good to you, that's all that matters to me" he said, making Norma's heart beat faster. She stood then, making her way over to her son. He rose and pulled her into his embrace.

"Thank you, sweetie" she mumbled into his chest, kissing him on the corner of his mouth.

"Sure thing, mother. I'm going to head upstairs to bed" he smiled, kissing her cheek and breaking the hug.

"I love you honey. Goodnight"

"Goodnight" he replied, walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs to his room.

Norma breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She still didn't feel at ease though, something was still not right. She walked into the hallway, grabbing her coat from the hook and heading outside. Slowly, Norma descended the steps of her home and made her way down to room 11.

* * *

Norma stood outside the door to Alex's room, absentmindedly she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and knocked on his door. If she listened closely, she could hear footsteps in his room leading to the door. When he opened up, his tired eyes shot open to see her.

"Norma? Is everything okay?" he asked groggily, brushing a hand over his head.

"Everything is fine. Can we talk?" she asked, her fingers tugging at the sleeve of her coat anxiously.

"Sure. Come in" he answered, obviously still angry with her.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" she offered, stepping away from his room.

He stepped back inside, quickly slipping on shoes.

"Fine" he said, shutting his door behind him.

He stood locking his room, still wearing a white t shirt and a pair of plaid pajama pants.

She grinned at his attire, but quickly wiped the smirk away when he turned back to her.

Soon enough, they made their way to a beautiful spot overlooking a lake.

"So, what did you want?" he questioned, remaining short with her.

"I told Norman we were together" she admitted.

"Really?" he asked in disbelief.

She nodded, keeping her eyes fixated on the lake.

"He came home a little while after you left and I just decided to tell him the truth" she explained calmly.

"That's all I wanted" he muttered, kicking the pebbles at his feet.

"I feel at peace now that he knows" she replied.

He looked at her, the way the moonlight was hitting her face highlighting every feature.

"I'm sorry I made you upset, Alex. You've done so much for me and have been so amazing through all of this shit, I couldn't ask for a better man" she smiled, rubbing his cheek with her thumb.

"I love you" he replied, tugging her to him, dropping a slow kiss on her lips.

She pulled away, gazing into his eyes.

"I love you too, Alex...so much" she smiled happily, letting him sway her back in fourth.

He left one more quick kiss on her cheek, slipping his hand in hers.

"Wanna head back home?" he asked, glancing one last time at the lake.

"Will you spend the night with me?" she replied, resting her head on his chest.

"I can't say no to that" he grinned, kissing the top of her head.

Together they walked in quiet bliss on their way back to the motel.


	19. Devotion, Pancakes, and Muscles

**Wow! Haven't updated in a long time and I'm so sorry. School just started and it's a heavy workload. Anyway, here's the next installment, enjoy! **

Once Norma and Alex made their way back to her house, they made the journey up to her bedroom. She looked down at Alex's clothing and giggled.

"I'd ask if you need to go back to your room and grab a pair of pajamas but...it looks like your all ready for bed".

He looked down and rolled his eyes playfully. "I actually went out like this?" he chuckled, making his way to the edge of her bed and plopping down.

"You didn't know what you were wearing?" she asked, grabbing a nightie from her bedroom drawer.

"I would've paid more attention to my outfit if I wasn't so distracted by your eyes" he said, looking at her with a goofy grin on his face.

She doubled over with laughter at his cheesy words. "Your so corny!" she managed between fits of giggles. He made his way off the bed and clutched her in his arms as her body trembled in chuckles. "You have the most adorable laugh" he complimented, kissing the side of her head.

"I'm going to go change" she smiled, turning to leave. Before she made her way out the door, Alex grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him. "Why not change here? Where I can watch" he offered up devilishly. She giggled and brushed a finger over his cheek.

"You want me to do a strip tease for you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He simply nodded and sat back on her bed. She turned to the small radio sitting on her bureau. As she looked for a good station, she swayed her hips to attract his attention further.

Once she found some old motown song, she moved back towards him, kicking her wedges off. Slowly, careful fingers found the buttons on her blouse, popping them open down the seam. The shirt landed on the floor, next to her sensually moving body. Then, she unzipped her skirt with caution, noticing how Alex's eyes were soon filled with arousal. When the skirt pooled at her feet, she stepped out of it, kicking it to the side. As she stood in her lacy black bra and matching boy shorts, she ran both hands up and down her smooth, porcelain skin. Norma stalked slowly towards Alex, sitting on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lowered her lips to his, teasing him but not mildly satisfying him with a kiss. She gyrated slowly on his lap, running her hands up and down his arms.

Alex watched Norma, more turned on than he ever was in his life. He grasped her hips and flipped her on her back. "Your the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life" he cooed, kissing her cheek.

She ran her hands up and down his back, taking off his t shirt as he kicked off his jeans. Alex reached back and slid her bra off. She glided her panties down her ankles and looked at him. He moved her up so she was vertically on the bed, her head resting on the pillows. He reached over and flicked the bedroom light off, pulling the covers over their bodies. Norma wrapped her legs around his waist. She pulled his head down to hers, so her mouth was near his ear. "Make love to me" she whispered, her fingers grazing the back of his head.

Alex complied to her, expressing his love for her with passionate thrusts and careful hands. The couple soon fell tired somewhere between the 7th and 8th time. They soon fell asleep, nuzzled against each other.

* * *

Norma woke before Alex the next morning, her hair was wild from his clutching fingers. As she cleared the platinum pieces from her face, her fingers brushed over a large mark on her neck. It didn't take her long to realize that she had a hickey branded on her skin. She wanted to feel mortified, but she almost felt a thrill, she felt like a young teenager. Slowly, her legs entwined as she rolled over and softly mounted Alex. She observed as his eyes fluttered open and his lips twisted into an instant smile. Immediately, his gaze adverted to the love bite on her neck. He reached up to touch it.

"I'm guessing I did that" he chuckled. Norma rested his fingers on his hand, now conjoined on her neck. He rolled over, so he was on top of her.

"You did indeed" she responded, pulling his head down for a messy kiss. When she pulled away, they both needed to catch their breath. "Morning".

"Good morning. Last night was absolutely splendid" he expressed, resting his hands at her side. She let her hands fall to his hips clutching his body closer to hers. He always felt so warm...it was incredibly comforting to Norma, who felt a smile coming on at his words.

"Absolutely splendid?" she giggled. He kissed her the spot on her neck where her hickey lay, raising his eyes to rest on hers, a half smile on his face.

"How many times after sex have I used the terms "good" and "amazing" to describe my performance?" he joked.

She let out a playful gasp at his statement. "_Your_ performance. I believe we both have the sore hips and muscles to prove it" she smiled.

"I suppose I should give you a little credit" he smiled, letting his hands explore her thighs.

Norma leaned up and placed another kiss on his lips. "A lot of credit" she said, pecking his cheek one last time before sitting up in bed. She draped the covers off of her now nude body and stood up, making her way over to her vanity chair. Her fingers clutched the blue silky robe that hung off her chair and she covered herself.

"Do you have to wear a robe?" he asked as he pouted like a little boy.

"If I want to walk around the house and make breakfast, then yes I do have to wear a robe" she smiled, walking back to the bed, and leaning down to kiss his lips quickly. "Now, come downstairs with me".

He groaned, throwing his head back in playful anguish. "Baby, all I want to do is stay in bed with you all day" he whined, taking her hand in his.

"I have a motel to manage and you have a town to run" she smiled, pulling him up out of bed. He grinned at her before redressing. Alex made his way to her when he was clothed, holding her hips in his strong hands.

"What do you want for breakfast?" she asked, swaying back and fourth under his grip.

"I don't normally eat it" he answered, pressing his forehead to his.

"Not this morning, mister. Your coming down stairs with me and I'm going to make you a big, filling breakfast" she smiled.

"Yes, ma'am" he joked, following her down the steps to her kitchen.

As they entered, she glanced at the table then at him. "You sit while I make you something" she said, kissing his cheek before heading over to the cabinet. She pulled out a two pans, the pancake mix, and a few eggs.

He watched as she pulled out every single ingredient. "Norma, you really don't have to go through all this trouble. I typically just pick something up for lunch around noon anyway" he explained, resting his elbow on the table.

"Nonsense, I am making you breakfast. I care about you a lot and I think you deserve it" she exclaimed, stirring the pancake mix in a glass bowl. "Besides, you're a sheriff, you need your strength".

"What? You don't think I'm strong?" he teased, watching her out of the corner of his eye, he rolled up his shirt sleeve and flexed a muscle. She turned, letting out a loud laugh as she observed him.

She recovered, dropping the pancake mix in the pan and working at the doughy circles with a spatula. "You're very built, honey" she giggled.

"Thank you" he smiled, cherishing the laugh she let out. "Oh, I forgot to tell you that I got an e-mail from Sage and you have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock. Does that work for you?" he asked.

She dropped the finished pancakes on a glass dish and set it on the counter top as she got started on the scrambled eggs. "That will be fine. Can you make it?" she questioned, whisking the eggs in the frying pan.

"Of course, Norma. I will come to any and every session if that's what you want" he reassured her.

She scooped the eggs out of the pan, onto the half filled plate. She made her way over to the kitchen table and rested the plate in front of him. She leaned down to kiss his cheek. "I love you" she said.

"I love you, too" he smiled, taking his fork and scooping food into his mouth. "This tastes amazing" he complimented her, taking a few more bites before giving her a confused look. "You aren't hungry?".

She shook her head. "Not really. Plus, I have an early lunch with Dylan" she exclaimed. Ever since they reconnected, Norma and Dylan had gone out at least once a week to catch up, it was nice to just talk with her eldest son.

He nodded as he chewed on his eggs.

When he finally finished, he rose from the table with a full stomach. "That was delicious, Norma. I really appreciate it" he said gratefully, taking her by the hips, and dropping a sweet kiss on her lips.

"I'm happy you enjoyed it" she giggled, placing her hand in his. "Do you have to head to work now?".

He rolled his eyes, "Unfortunately" he sighed, gripping her hand.

They walked to her front door, stopping at the end of the hallway. "I'll miss you today" he exclaimed, kissing her cheek.

"I'll miss you more" she replied, rubbing his cheekbone with her fingertips.

"Bye, honey" he said, opening the door, and descending the steps.

"Have a good day at work" she called behind.

She shut the door tight behind him, already starting to miss him. At that moment, Norma realized just how in love with him she really was.

**Please leave a review and let me know if you liked it. XOXO**


	20. Unexpected Double Date

**Sorry for the long wait...this is the 20th chapter! I have come a long way with this story and am so, incredibly thankful for my readers. Your comments and views make my passion for writing Normero fic grow everyday. I have decided to incorporate Dylan and Emma into the story more. I hope you guys like my character development so far. Warning: Updates will take a longer time because I have a heavier school workload. I'm trying to please my readers and get good grades as well. On a side note, if you guys haven't checked out me and Ezzillion's new RP story, Love in the Realm of Forgiveness , please do! This is my first collab story and her first Bates fic. She is amazing! The way she writes for Alex Romero will blow your mind, she is incredibly spot on with his actions and emotions. Ezzillion, if your reading this, I have had an absolutely splendid time writing with you so far! Xoxo - MJ123 **

It was later that night, there was a full moon hanging high in the sky as Alex stepped out of his SUV. He eagerly trotted to the motel office to see Norma. He stepped inside, his eyebrows knitted in confusion when he didn't see her at her usual spot, the front desk. "Norma?" he called out. Ever since the Caleb situation, he had been overtly and unapologetically overprotective of Norma, his main goal was to keep her safe and out of the hands of evil.

"Back here" she replied, he felt his heart rate and anxiety float back down to there normal levels as he realized she was simply in the back office. He made his way in the back and grinned as he saw her bent over a cardboard box, rummaging through for something. He paced over to her slowly, wrapping his big arms around her waist. Norma felt heart convulsing as she felt his touch. She spun on the wedge of her heel to face him. "Hi" she smiled, one of her dreamiest smiles that lit up her entire face and made Alex wonder how one human being could hold the features that she had. Her fingers drifted upwards, playing with the little hairs at the nape of his neck.

"How was your day at work?" she asked, feeling goosebumps come alive and flair all over her skin as his hands massaged her lower back softly.

Alex grinned, he loved when she inquired about his day at work, it showed him that she truly cared about him and his chosen profession. Most of the woman he dated didn't care about what he did, they didn't want to get involved in the details of such a high risk and difficult job. Most of his ex's only saw the finer, happier pieces of White Pine Bay. Norma...Norma had seen it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of the seedy small town. Her shock value was practically non-existent whenever he went into detail about his day as Sheriff, no matter how brutally graphic it was, Norma just shrugged her shoulders and praised him for taking on such a challenging job. Norma actually made him feel important...something that not many people could do. Alex knew it was brave of him, doing what he did everyday, but it was nice to hear it from the one person that actually mattered to him.

"It was interesting. I actually delivered a baby today" he laughed, keeping his grip tight around her waist. Norma's eyes pondered his face, her lips twisting into a surprised grin. "How did that happen?" she asked, sounding intrigued. She took him by the hand and led him over to the couch in the back office, they sat and she got ready to listen to him.

"Well, I was sitting in my office doing the usual paperwork when Deputy Lynn called for me. She was freaking out saying that there was a woman in the backseat of her car on the highway, she was about to give birth and Lynn had no idea how to deliver because she isn't done with training yet. So, I got in my car and sped to the disclosed location, found the woman and sure enough, I delivered her daughter. I drove her to the hospital after that and then went back to work" he explained, tugging Norma onto his lap.

Norma smiled and looked back at him, smiling. "How on earth do you know how to deliver a baby?" she asked, reaching up to graze his cheek. Alex smiled and basked in the feeling of her fingertips.

"When I was around 20 years old and just starting out on the force, I had to attend these training classes. One of the final things they taught us how to do was emergency childbirth. We had to watch a video and then take a test. It was probably one of the easiest things I learned how to do. I just never thought the information would come in handy, but now I know it was worth it" he smiled, reflecting on his early deputy days.

"Your such a hero" she sighed in awe, leaning deeper into his chest. "I'm practically dating a sheriff and a doctor mixed in one".

"I guess you could say that" he replied, pulling her face down to his and leaving short kisses on her lips. "You make me so happy, Norma" he said truthfully, rubbing her cheeks with his thumbs. She smiled adoringly, loving the things he said to her. "You make me happy too" she giggled, kissing his neck.

Suddenly, their necks both craned towards the front office as they heard the door snap shut. "Hello?" they both heard a feminine voice project. Alex looked at her with question in her eyes. "It's just Emma, she's getting ready to start her shift" Norma reassured him, rising from his lap and making her way to the front. She spotted Emma and smiled. "Hello, Emma. How are you honey?" she asked sweetly.

Emma gave her the classic innocent smile. "I'm well. And you?" she asked, wheeling her tank behind the front desk so it would sit near her feet. "Doing great" Norma answered, now standing in front of the desk, watching her get situated.

Alex came out a second later, walking towards Norma and standing next to her. "Sheriff Romero" Emma greeted him, keeping the smile plastered on her face. She had heard rumors around town that the two were now an item, she just couldn't believe it. For the past few years, Emma kept note of the fact that they had harbored this extreme sexual tension between one another but it never seemed like it could happen. Looking at them now, she couldn't help but think that they were a cute couple.

Alex managed to give her a small smile. "Emma" he returned the gesture, pleasantly. "How have you been, how's your father?" he asked, leaning against the desk. He'd known Will Decody for many years, they used to fish together. Emma grinned and cleared her throat. "I'm fine. My dad is great...the shop is doing fairly well with business so that's certainly a component in his mood" she laughed, now logging on to the motel computer and setting up the reservations.

"That's good to hear" he replied, still holding the half smile on his face. He turned back to Norma and reached for her hand. She clasped her hand into his hesitantly. "Emma, are you going to be okay by yourself?" she asked protectively. Norma knew that she was a maternal figure for Emma, she loved the role. If she had been lucky enough to have a daughter, she'd have wanted her to be just like Emma, kind, responsible, and sweet.

Emma nodded. "Of course, I'll be fine. I texted Norman over an hour ago and asked if he was going to work with me tonight, but he never responded" she sighed, clicking on her phone to check if she had any missed calls or texts from him. "Did he go out tonight?" she asked Norma, assuming she would know.

Norma thought, checking her own phone. She scrolled through the text thread between her and Norma, seeing if he had told her of his plans. "Let's see...ah, here it is" she began, reading the text and clicking her phone off, slipping it back in the pocket of her cardigan. "He's at the library, studying for some test he has on Monday. I don't think he can use his phone in there" she answered.

"That explains it" she concluded, reading the reservation book. "Anyhow, I'll be fine here, no need to worry" she smiled, looking at Norma and Alex's entwined hands.

"Okay, well, we're going to head out for the night. I will probably be back in a few hours, but if you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to call or text me" she reassured, heading out of the office with Alex. Emma nodded as she watched them leave. Norma and the Sheriff were one hot item.

* * *

Norma drove her Cadillac up and over the numerous narrow roads of White Pine Bay. Alex sat in the passengers seat, his eyes glued to Norma's content, peaceful smile. Eventually, she turned to him and brushed a loose piece of hair out of her face. "Do you want to go get a drink somewhere?" she offered, her blue orbs returning to the road ahead of them. He simply nodded and reached over to place his palm on her thigh, she glanced down at his hand and smiled. He reached over with his free hand to turn on the radio, attempting to find a good song. When he found something suitable, he leaned back and rested his head on the seat. Norma was lightly singing along to the song he found.

Alex looked over at her, his eyes hazy from his long day at work, he was aching to unwind. "You sound pretty" he cooed, watching her lips move to the gentle flow of the music. She just looked over and grinned at him, admiring how peaceful he looked in the moment. She pulled into a practically empty bar parking lot. The only vehicles around was a cherry red jeep parked next to Norma's car and a blue corvette at the end of the lot. She shut the engine off and tapped Alex's shoulder, he had gently dozed off as she drove.

He shuttered, slightly disoriented. "What is it?" he asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Norma giggled at his already groggy voice. "We're here, honey" she smiled, leaning over to plant a kiss on his lips. He grinned when she pulled away and unbuckled his seat belt, opening his door and getting out to stretch his tired limbs. She left the vehicle as well, locking her car in the process. She made her way to the bar entrance and held the door open for Alex, he entered and smiled at her. "Thanks, gorgeous" he winked playfully. She rolled her eyes and shook her head as she followed behind him, linking arms.

Once they entered the bar, Norma scanned for an empty table. Her eyes widened a bit when they set upon Dylan, sitting at the far side of the bar with an attractive redhead, they were holding hands across the table. She tugged at Alex's arm a bit, getting his attention. "Look" she said, her eyes glued to her son.

"Do you want to go over and say hello?" he asked, moving his arm around her waist. She nodded as she began walking towards his table with Alex latched attentively at her side. She cleared her throat when the pair approached his table. Dylan's eyes shot to his mother in both surprise and shock. "Oh, hey Norma. Sheriff Romero" he smiled, nodding towards them.

Alex just smiled at the young couple awkwardly. Norma piped up, looking at her son, "Hi" she smiled. "Who's this?" she asked, motioning to the girl he was across from, shooting her a polite and inviting smile.

"I'm sorry" Dylan said, he looked at his date. "Julie, this is my mother, Norma. Mom, this is Julie...my girlfriend" he announced, mumbling the last part. He had been seeing Julie for a few months, but was extremely hesitant to bring her around his dysfunctional family.

Julie grinned at Norma, taking her in. She outstretched her hand and shook kindly. "I've heard great things about you, Mrs. Bates" she smiled, eyeing her. Norma returned her grin, she flashed her gaze at Alex. "This is my boyfriend, Alex" she said, introducing him to relive the awkward tension.

"Hello" she smiled, shaking his hand as well. "Would you two like to join us?" she offered kindly, motioning to the empty space in front of their table.

Norma looked at Alex for clarification, she was all for getting to know Dylan's date. Alex glanced back at her with a small smile. "We'd love to" Norma answered, reaching back to pull two chairs away from a vacant table. Dylan took a deep, internal breath. This was bound to be a long night.

**Let me know what you think of this chapter, I aim to please! - MJ123 xoxoxo (: **


	21. Dancing in the Moonlight

**Short and sweet chapter. ****I apologize for not updating in eons, I hate making my wonderful readers and reviewers wait, school has been such a royal pain and I've just had no time to write. Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter. Please enjoy and if you haven't checked out my new story "In My Solitude", give it a read. Hope this new installment makes up for my absence - MJ123 **

Norma cleared her throat and scanned Julie over for the third time. She was a beautiful girl, her red hair was vibrant and curly, she had green emerald eyes that anyone would kill for. Norma smiled sweetly at the girl, ready to ask a boatload of questions. She never really paid attention to the girls Dylan would date, but she was ready to change that. As Alex grasped her hand under the table, she knew she was ready to start talking.

"So, how did you two meet?" she asked, feeling her maternal instincts come through towards Dylan more than ever before. Internally, Norma was happy for her son, he was at the age where he should find someone to start a future with.

Dylan smiled at Julie and reached for her hand. "Actually, Remo introduced us. Julie is his sisters daughter" he explained, looking at her from across the table, signalling that she should tell the rest.

Julie gave him a slight nod, propping her elbow up on the table, and adverting her gaze on Norma and Alex. "I was in town with my mom and Dylan happened to be at my uncle's house the night we arrived. We just started making small talk and he offered to show me around town. He's just such a gentlemen, he really cares about people, you have raised quite a son" she chuckled, gripping his hand.

Norma smiled and cocked her head to the side. "I try my best" she chuckled. "How long have you two been seeing one another?" she asked, directing the question towards Dylan. He grinned at her, then flicked his eyes on Norma. He cleared his throat and sat up straight.

"Um...we've been together about four months now" he smiled, rubbing her hand with his thumb.

Julie looked back at him, her eyes lit up in delight. "The greatest four months of my life" she giggled quietly.

"You two are a cute couple" Norma commented, exchanging glances between her son and his girlfriend.

Julie smiled at her and nudged her head towards she and Alex, who was currently gripping her hand under the table. "You guys are too" she giggled, and rested her head in her hand. "So, how did you two meet?" she asked.

Dylan automatically exchanged a nervous glance towards Alex and Norma. She met his eyes anxiously and took a deep breath to redeem herself. She tried to stay calm, but feeling Alex squeeze her hand so tightly and knowing her son's eyes were watching her, waiting for her next story. Norma didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to tell the truth, she was caught in between her morals and reality.

"Um...actually, Alex and I met when I first moved here. I was moving some stuff into the house and it was pretty late, he and another deputy were driving by and they decided to check up on me" she smiled, flicking her eyes on Alex.

Alex knew it was his turn to continue their story, he couldn't promise it was going to be "meet cute". He cleared his throat and propelled his body forward. "So, I walked up to her, introduced myself, and made sure everything was okay. Then we got to talking...and that was pretty much it. She has this wonderful sense of humor and the prettiest pair of eyes I'd ever seen in all of White Pine Bay" he exclaimed, being cheesy in the best kind of way. Norma's heart softened at his words of praise, she leaned over and kissed his cheek, under the table she rubbed the top of his hand affectionately.

"Aw, that's so cute!" she squealed, her young heart soaring at the sweet story he told. Even Dylan was taken aback by the way Alex spoke of his mother...it was certainly a difference from Sam or George

Dylan gave a slight nod and rose from the table, feeling a little tense. "Well, it's getting late, and we've been here a while. Are you ready to go, sweetie?" he asked, looking at Julie. She rose with him and shrugged. Norma scanned them both up and down. "Well, it was nice meeting you" she smiled, waving to the young girl.

"You as well" she replied as her and Dylan departed from the table. Norma watched them go and proceeded to snuggle herself into Alex's shoulder. "She seemed nice" he said, rubbing his hand along her arm. Norma nodded and glanced up at him.

"I'm just a little miffed Dylan didn't tell me he was seeing someone. You would think if they've been together for a whole four months he would have said _something._..or at least hinted at it" she scoffed, picking up the menu that sat at the corner of the table.

"Eh...when I was his age, I was really quiet about my girlfriends too. I wouldn't worry about it too much" he reassured her, kissing the top of her head.

Norma shrugged and flipped through the plastic pages of her menu. "Your probably right. I mean...we were always pretty distant. We only started re-connecting a few months ago" she explained.

"Yeah, it's totally normal for him to store that information from you. Sometimes it's really hard for a guy to open up and admit he is seeing somebody...especially to his mother" he admitted, gently rubbing his fingertips along her hip.

She stayed silent, eyeing the Long Island Ice Tea on the menu.

"Now, what do you want to drink?"

* * *

Alex and Norma left the bar a few hours later, both a bit tipsy. They made their way to the car and headed back to the motel, Alex being extremely cautious as he drove through the winding roads of White Pine Bay. Norma leaned on his shoulder as he drove. Alex peared at her, the moonlight accenting her face perfectly, not missing one bit of her.

The stayed silent, pulling into the closest lot towards Norma's house. She twisted her body so she faced him, "Wanna sleepover?" she asked, grinning at him.

"What kind of question is that?" he joked, getting out of the car, and making his way over to her side, opening the door for her. She got out and smiled at him, loving what a gentleman he was to her. Norma clutched his hand and started walking towards her house.

Alex pulled back, letting their hands break apart for a moment. "Wait, I need a pair of pajamas from my room if I'm going to spend the night" he claimed, his eyes darting towards room 11. Norma let a sultry smile fall over her lips, "In what instance would you need clothing if you're staying over?". He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

They re-locked hands, making their way up her stairs. Norma reached down to retrieve the key under the welcome mat. She opened the front door, motioning for him to move inside. Once they were both in the house, Norma moved into the living room and sat on the couch. Alex entered the room and looked around, his eyes automatically hitting the record player perched in the corner. He paced over to it, seeing the stack of old 45's next to the player, he skimmed through them.

"Are all of these yours?" he asked her, holding a dusty 45 up with a curious look on his face.

She shook her head in silence. "No, actually. When Norman and I moved in, we found a bundle of ancient records. We just decided to keep them here as oppose to throwing them away" she explained, looking relaxed. Alex put one of the records on, watching it spin, and soon the soft crooning of The Everly Brothers started to fill the room.

He extended a hand out to Norma, she met his gaze and gave him a grin, accepting his hand. She hummed softly to the music as they danced around the room slowly. She tucked her head into his chest and he let his hands hold onto her waist tightly as they moved in time with one another. He lowered his mouth down to her ear, "You know how much I love you, right?".

This made Norma's heart swell with affection and adoration. She loved it when Alex said these kinds of things to her, it made her feel good about herself and their relationship. "Of course, but I never tire of hearing it" she smiled, kissing the side of his ear. "And you know I love you, don't you?" she cooed.

Alex nodded, kissing the side of her temple, and rubbing his thumbs over her waist. She pulled away with a mix of desire and passion in her dazzling orbs. "Why don't we finish this upstairs?" she asked seductively. Alex nodded, taking her hand as she led them both up the stairs. They both knew the magic of the night was far from over.

**Please leave me some kind of comment and let me know what you think(: **


	22. Fast Paced Grief

**Well, here it is. The next chapter of Black and Blue. It's taken a while to write up and edit, and I'm so sorry about that. I understand if some of you have stopped reading, but I wanted to let you guys know that I'm far from being done with this story. To those of you who are still reading, I would really appreciate a review or two, just to get a feel for how your liking it thus far. Please leave me any suggestions if you have them. Anyway, enough of me, I hope you guys love this new chapter. PM me for comments, questions, or ideas, I check my account everyday at least twice so I always get notifications. Enjoy, love my readers :) **

Norma woke up the next morning peacefully. Her and Alex's previous encounter had been wonderful. The sex between the two had became so much more amorous and passionate, it wasn't all about the climax anymore but the intimacy in between. Once Norma started to stir, she realized something was missing...Alex's arm wasn't wrapped around her waist in it's usual spot. She shot up in bed immediately, looking to her opposite side to see empty sheets.

Norma rose and reached for her robe at the edge of the bed. It wasn't like Alex to just disappear, but she knew he hadn't left her home because his coat and shoes were still in the room. She shook her hair out of the messy state it was left in and eased her steps into the hallway, in search of him. Once she made her way to Dylan's old room, now transformed into a guest area, the sound of his voice became evident to her.

Pressing her ear against the wooden door softly, Norma tried to decode his conversation.

"Okay...I don't know how soon I can make it out. Yeah, let them know that I'll make it. I just...I can't believe it".

She couldn't began to believe her ears, Alex sounded like he'd been crying. Never in a million year had Norma ever thought that he would be the kind of man to shed tears. Alex was a fighter, it took two years for her to really see the true him. His voice was now weak and broken...and she was ready to help automatically.

Norma slowly opened the door to the guest room and spotted Alex perched on the edge of the mattress, the phone in his hand. She watched as he hung up and entered the room, now making her presence known to him. "Alex, honey" she started, compassion coated in her sweet voice.

Alex's head turned to see her and he automatically felt embarrassed. He knew his face was red and his vulnerability was obvious, out in the open, something he was definitely not comfortable with. He took in a deep breath, rubbing his face with his hands, and sitting up straighter. "Good morning" he greeted, like nothing had changed.

She said nothing in reply, just made her way over to the guest bed, and planted down next to him. Norma entwined her hand in his and attempted to look into his eyes, but he wouldn't budge, so she settled her blues upon his cheek. "What's wrong?" she asked, tightening the grip on his palm.

"Nothing, nothing is wrong Norma" he lied, twisting his head away from her in shame. His feelings were never easy, especially when they were being showcased in this manner.

Norma took a deep breath and rolled her eyes softly. "Honey, please don't lie to me. I know there's something going on. I heard your voice...you sounded like you were crying" she admitted, crossing her legs, and preparing to force the truth out of his thick exterior.

Alex held himself together and sighed audibly. "My cousin passed away this morning" he admitted, feeling his heart sink. Norma gazed at him with the utmost sympathy and empathy, she reached over and entrapped him in her arms. "Oh Alex, I'm so sorry" she said, kissing his cheek, and staying latched to his waist.

"It's uh-it's fine, Norma" he sniffled quickly, standing from the bed and walking back towards his room. She rose and quickly trailed behind him, why was he acting so weird? Is this how Alex handled grief? Once she hit the bedroom, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't we talk about it?" she offered, still withholding her face painted with sorrow.

Alex held her stare. He wasn't one to talk about his feelings. Hell, he wasn't one to deal with things like greif. But he loved her, truly loved her, and that meant he had no other choice but to open up. He let out a sigh and plopped down on her mattress, his head against the pillow. "Come over here, first".

Norma complied, pattering over to the opposite side of the bed, and snuggling herself beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder and draped her arm across his hard chest. "Now tell me what's going on" she pushed lovingly, turning to face him.

"Well...I was really close to my cousin and he passed away today. That's about it" he explained, obviously distancing himself from her compassion. Norma shook her head with a pair of plaintive eyes. "Honey, I know there's more to the story. How were you two close?" she questioned, dropping a kiss on his chest.

He huffed and locked eyes with her, feeling his heart soften by looking into her orbs. "His name was Chris. We were only two years apart in age and once my grandparents adopted me, I saw him a lot more. He was...uh...Chris was like my best friend growing up. We were close up until I came to White Pine Bay, then we only started seeing each other on assorted holidays and awkward family occasions. I just feel like a pile of shit because we were in a fight last time I saw him" he paused, taking another deep breath. "You see, I owed him a large sum of money because he lended me around $6,000 to pay off my tuition for college".

"Oh, I'm sure he still loved and cared about you, Alex. Money doesn't alter love" she replied, attempting to soothe him. She ran her fingers around in a circle on his chest.

Alex nodded slightly. "Yeah...I guess you're right, but I can't help feeling guilty. Anyway, he died in a fatal car accident early this morning. His wife, Tula told me over the phone that the funeral is on Sunday".

"That's awful. I'm so, so sorry, Alex" she exclaimed, leaning up to kiss his lips. "Are you going to go to his service?".

He nodded, tightening his grip around her waist, and kissing her temple. "Yeah. It's actually up in Phoenix" he said, pulling her up on top of him. Norma couldn't believe it, what a small world it was.

"That's ironic. I actually lived there before I moved here" she exclaimed, latching her hands to his shoulder blades.

"Really?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well then, would you mind accompanying me to the funeral?".

Norma thought for a few seconds. It was really important to help Alex, plus he sounded kind of desperate in asking her to join him. He was always there for her, he came with her to therapy for God's sake. Now, she knew she needed to be there for Alex. "Of course I will come with you" she said.

"Good, because I wouldn't want to go without you by my side" he admitted, kissing her cheek and pulling back to look into her eyes. "We need to head out tomorrow night if we are going to make it in time for the funeral. It's going to take almost a day to get there" he explained.

"Alright. We'll leave tomorrow night then, I'll have Norman stay with Emma or Dylan so he isn't alone here. How long do you think we'll be in Arizona for?" she questioned.

"Would 3 days be alright? I figure it will take two days to get there and back, and of course we have to attend the funeral" he said, rubbing at her warm skin with the pads of his thumbs. Norma nodded and smiled sadly at him.

"I really appreciate you coming with me, Norma" he cooed, clearing the hair out of her face.

"I will always be here for you, Alex. No matter what, I will always be here".

**LIKE IT? LEAVE A REVIEW. **


	23. Booty Shorts and Non-Existent Eyebrows

**Short and sweet for my readers. I hope you guys like this chapter. I tried mixing in a little bit of humor as comedic relief in this story. It's rare that I post two chapters in a week but you guys are worth it. Let me know if you like it or not. Leave me a review if you do or don't (constructive criticism is always welcome). I have many plans for this story. Well, enjoy this next installment - MJ123 (:**

As she folded and packed her last pair of shorts, she called out for Alex. "Honey, can you come here for a second. I need your opinion on something!" she projected, waiting for him to march into her room.

Within seconds and without any hesitation, Alex was by her side, eyes flickering on her. "What do you need?" he asked tentatively.

"I don't know what to wear on Sunday, so I just pulled a couple of black dresses out of my closet" she began, picking up both of her options and placing them against her body. "Which one do you like the best, keep in mind it's going to be blistering hot up there" she exclaimed.

"Both of them would look beautiful on you. But I like this one" he answered, pulling the lacy black strapless dress from her. Norma flashed him a minimal smile, took the dress of the hanger, and placed it in the suitcase, along with a pair of black heels and a short black sweater. "Are you all packed?" she asked.

Alex nodded silently. Ever since the death, he had been quieter and certainly more reserved. He was grateful to Norma however, she had been there with him every step of the way. "Yeah, suffice to say you're going to see me in a lot of summer attire" he revealed, chuckling softly. "I'm not such a fan of shorts".

"Why? Have you not shaved your legs in a while?" she joked, smiling as she zipped up her suitcase and placed it on the ground. Alex smiled, taking her hand in his and playing with her fingers. "No, I just have a passion for long pants".

"You have very muscular legs, there's nothing to worry about" she reassured, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "I have to wear shorts too".

Slowly a grin graced Alex's lips. "Are they booty shorts?" he questioned sinfully. Norma laughed, shaking her head. "No, I can't wear those in public, not at my age. But I promise you that I will buy a pair and wear them especially for you".

"I'd love to see them on you" he professed, taking her hips in his hands. "Look...I'm uh-I'm really thankful to you for being here with me through all of this. I know I've been a little weird these past few days and I'm sorry for that" he sighed, plopping down on the edge of her bed. "I guess I just still feel that guilt about Chris".

"Alex" she began, taking a place next to him on the mattress, and re-hooking their hands. "I'm happy that you can confide in me...because I love you and that's what I'm here for. Comfort and support, if you ever need me, I'll always be there" she paused to kiss his cheek. "About your cousin, I get that you're guilty, I totally understand that. I've been in your shoes before".

He looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion written on his face. "What do you mean?" he questioned, squeezing at her hand a little.

Norma sighed and looked ahead, her eyes telling the story before she could even open up her mouth. "Well...you obviously know how abusive my deceased husband was. Before he died, we got in a huge fight, and he got physically violent with me. I just wish that I could go back and change it into some kind of happy memory. When he wasn't drinking, he was an okay man, but one drop of alcohol in his system and he was a monster. Trust me, to this day I still get angry about the last time we saw one another. But, you have to accept it, and take some kind of strength away from it. Focus on happy memories, not some stupid spat. Alex, you are a wonderful man, I'm sure your cousin knew that about you, no fight would change the love he probably felt for you".

Alex said nothing at all, just looked at her. He pulled her into a tight hug, swaying her frame back and forth as they sat. "I love you" he whispered, kissing the side of her ear. Norma smiled and kissed him back. "I love you, too. This whole situation with all the guilt will subside before you know it".

He nodded, still holding her. "I hope so".

* * *

A few hours later, just before sunset, the pair had to head out on the lengthy road trip to Arizona. Before they left, Norma was practically neurotic regarding Norman, making sure he had everything he needed and that Dylan was comfortable staying with him.

The brothers sat on the couch in the living room with Alex, watching Norma move around the house quickly checking everything one last time. Dylan finally sighed and called out to her. "We'll be fine, Norma. You guys are leaving for three days, it's not like you're going on safari!".

She re-entered the living room, rolling her eyes at the comment. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I just wanna make sure you two are okay. I'm your mother, it's my job to be obsessive and overprotective. Okay, Norman I left your lunch money on an envelope in the kitchen. Dylan, there are three uncooked dinners in the fridge, I made a turkey pot pie, some pot roast, and a lasagna. Now, I left heating directions on the stove, they should be fairly easy to follow. Norman, I want you in bed by 10:30 because you have school. Do you think you two can handle yourselves?" she asked, car keys in hand.

Dylan scoffed, shaking his head with an open mouth. "Norma, what makes you think we can't handle ourselves?" he laughed sarcastically, eyeing Norman who shared his feeling.

"I don't care how old you are. There's a reason I don't leave you two alone. Does Christmas Eve 2002 ring a bell to either of you? When Sam was at work and I had last minute shopping to do?".

Dylan sat thinking and then began laughing so hard he was practically doubled over. "Oh yeah! That was the year Norman had no eyebrows! I shaved them when he was down for a nap" he exclaimed, looking over at Norman who was now joining in the banter.

Norma just shook her head with a small smile at her boys reminiscing. "I'll never forget Norman's first grade school picture...I remember having to draw on his eyebrows with my makeup pencil. He looked like a drag queen". She smiled, moving over to her sons, and dropping a kiss on each of their foreheads.

Alex held their luggage, ready to leave, he knew they were pressed for time. Norma got the signal and walked towards the front door. "I love you both. When I get home I want Norman to have eyebrows!" she exclaimed before exiting the home with Alex in toe.

**Like the story? Leave me a review :) **


	24. Orange Juice and Steamy Shower Sessions

**Hey everyone :) I tried to push for a longer chapter this time because I know it's been a little while since I've updated. If anyone has been waiting for this next chapter, I apologize, and if your still reading I really appreciate it. I know my last couple of chapters have been incredibly skimpy, I tried to be a bit more detailed this time. As always, if anyone had questions, comments, or suggestions please PM me or leave a review, it would be much loved. Enjoy - MJ123 :)**

As Norma and Alex drove through Oregon, he looked over at her with an apologetic grin. "I'm sorry you have to drive...I just don't know how to get to Phoenix and I didn't have a GPS installed in this car".

She waved her hand at him while keeping her eyes glued to the road ahead. "No that's fine. You don't have to apologize. I can't even believe I remember how to get there" she laughed.

Alex nodded, keeping his eyes glued to the side of her face. He extended a hand and placed it on her leg. "Do you ever miss it?" he asked, wanting to know more about her life before they met.

"What...Arizona?" she asked with a small scoff. "Not really. I was only 20 when I moved to Phoenix; it was just nice to be somewhere new. It was pretty there, lots of attractions to see".

"And you had Norman there, that's a plus right?" he chuckled, clutching her leg.

"Actually, I didn't give birth to Norman in Arizona. Sam and I were celebrating our first anniversary and we decided to take a vacation to Vegas because it was such a short drive. The night we got there and settled in, we went down to a casino and my water broke. We hunted around Las Vegas for a hospital while I was having these sharp, intense contractions and when we finally found one, I had him about an hour and a half later. The drive home was probably the easiest, he slept the whole way" she explained, smiling at the thought of Norman as a small newborn. Even then he was so needy towards her, it made her feel useful.

Alex chuckled a bit at her story. "So Norman was a Vegas baby? That's pretty cool" he smiled, twisting in the seat so he could fully face her.

She laughed as well. "I think so, too. His first baby blanket was actually covered in dice and had "I Heart Vegas" imprinted in the center. Sam went out to the hospital gift shop and got it the night he was born" she explained, a miniature smile of her face.

"You could call that unique" he laughed, moving his arm up to take her hand in his. "Other than Norman, was there anything else in Phoenix that you liked?".

"To be honest with you Alex, there was nothing else. Norman was the only thing that kept me going. Through all that shit with Sam, he was the only person I could count on and speak to about my issues" she admitted, biting her bottom lip.

"At least you're out of that situation. And you know you always have me to talk to right?" he asked, leaning over the armrest to get closer to her.

"I do. Of course I do...and I love having you, it's nice knowing I can finally open up to someone. Especially someone I love" she smiled, quickly leaning over to kiss him.

"I love you too" he exclaimed, keeping the grip on her hand. He looked out the window to see the darkness falling over the skyline. "It's getting pretty dark outside. Is there anywhere we could stop for the night? I really don't want you driving in the middle of the night, there are too many accidents, with reckless and drunk drivers".

Norma listened to him, silently admiring his care for her. "Ironically, there's a motel about fifteen minutes away. We could stay there and head back on the road at about 8 am. I'm trying to mentally put together some kind of schedule so we make it to Phoenix on time".

He just nodded, feeling tired from sitting in the car. "Okay. Do you want to grab some kind of dinner before we get a room?".

"Sure, I'll find a place where we can grab something quick and head to the motel" she said, turning off at the closest exit.

* * *

Once the two got to a motel room, Norma collapsed on the bed, giving out a sigh of relief once her body hit the surprisingly soft mattress. It was the most comfortable she felt all day long.

Norma turned to face him and took a deep breath. "I'm so tired, I really don't wanna get the luggage out of the car. Do you think you could grab it?" she asked with defeat in her voice.

"Sure thing" he said, moving towards the door. "I'm just gonna grab some pajamas and toothbrushes". She gave him a nod and he left. Once he opened the trunk to the car, he unzipped the suitcase and took out a pair of plaid pajama bottoms and his white shirt. He grabbed the sundries and headed back in the room.

"I noticed it was a lot warmer here so I figured you could just wear my t-shirt" he said, holding out his clothing to her. She took the shirt with a grin on her face.

"Is this really about the heat or do you just wanna see me in as little clothing as possible?" she laughed, starting to unzip her skirt.

"Well, you do have a great ass" he laughed, watching her change. "But I honestly thought it was too hot to bundle up in clothing".

She simply nodded and put his shirt on, heading into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash the makeup off of her face. She hated taking her makeup off in front of Alex, it made her feel incredibly self conscious. When she was in front of the mirror her confidence always went away. Her wrinkles became clear to see and signs of aging were increasingly evident.

Alex would always take note of the way she looked at herself. As he stood near the bed and watched her obvious disgust grow, he walked into the bathroom and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wiped the makeup away.

"You're beautiful, Norma" he murmured into her ear.

He really thought so too, she didn't need all that makeup to be perfect in his eyes. She had a glowing natural beauty that always beamed to him. She shot him a tiny smirk and kissed his neck. Walking out of the bathroom, she laid her items on the table and climbed into bed.

After Alex spit out the Listerine dancing around in his mouth, he flicked the lights off in the bathroom, and moved towards the bed. He peeled the covers down and lay next to her, taking the television remote in his hand. "You wanna watch some shitty movie and then go to bed?".

She nodded and glided over to rest her head on his bare chest. He flipped on the TV and to his surprise the screen showed a woman lying down on a bed with a man in between her legs moaning at the top of her lungs.

"Looks like the last guest was feeling a little adventurous" he chuckled. Quickly he slipped the channel to some sappy romance movie.

"I don't like porn. My husband used to try getting me to watch it with him, you know to spice things up, but I always refused. It's not that I'm a prude, I just don't like such a beautiful thing to be made dirty" she explained, moving a hand onto his chest.

"I would only watch it when I was in the mood. But it never quite got me going, not like you" he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

Norma looked up to stare into his warm pupils chuckling slightly. "I get you going, huh?".

Alex nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. "You do," he smiled, moving into a spoon. She rested with her back against his chest and he placed his head on her shoulder kissing her pulse point gingerly.

Norma reached over to flick the alarm on, that way they could wake up earlier, and hit the rode at her ideal time. She moved back to let her head hit the pillow. "Goodnight. I love you" she smiled, closing her eyes.

"I love you, too" he cooed, kissing her cheek before drifting off into sleep.

* * *

When Alex woke up the next morning, he realized the sheets were vacant next to him. He immediately shot up with worry. Where was Norma? He threw the sheets off of him and sat at the edge of the bed, taking his cell phone off the bed stand, and calling her cell.

The second the ringing started, Norma came through the front door, with two cups and a paper bag in hand. Alex shot up, shutting off the phone, and shooting her a relieved smile. She quickly took note of his expression and set the food down. "What's wrong, honey?".

"Nothing. I just woke up and you weren't there," he laughed. "What did you get?".

"Not much. Just some orange juice and bagels. We need to eat kind of fast because we're a bit behind schedule" she smiled, reaching into the bag and handing him the breakfast food.

"Thank you," he exclaimed, placing the cup back on the table "I'm not much of an orange juice person".

Norma gave him a knowing smirk and handed him the cup back. "You should drink it because it's filled with vitamins and it'll give you some kind of energy for the rest of the day" she stated, her maternal side coming out.

"I understand that, I'm just not a fan of it" he defended, rising to rest his hands on her hips.

"I'll make you a deal. If you drink that cup, I'll let you take a shower with me" she grinned sinfully, giving him her seductive eyes.

"Oh come on, you're bribing me with a _shower_" he scoffed.

She rose her eyebrow and set her cup down, taking the t-shirt off to reveal her bare chest. Alex stared with an aroused expression, his mouth hanging open a bit at the sight. "Good defense. Let me see the cup" he said, taking it, and quickly tossing the drink back.

He wiped his mouth and grabbed her hand. "C'mon" he smiled, pulling her into the bathroom anxiously. Norma laughed as they entered. "Okay, okay. Just remember we can't be in here too long".

He turned with a devilish grin. "Oh don't you worry. I'll be quick".

* * *

Once they finished the steamy shower session and got dressed for the day, they packed up all of their belongings and headed back outside to the car. Norma slid inside and started the engine, pulling out of the lot and turning to Alex.

"We only have about 10 hours left to go. We'll probably make it to Phoenix by 6 pm" she explained, pulling the sun visor down, blocking the morning sun from her weary eyes.

Alex nodded and closed his eyes as she pulled out.

**Thanks for reading. Want more? Leave me a review to let me know :) **


	25. The Sparkle In Their Eyes

**Well, i figured I'd make this one a fairly long chapter for my fantastic readers. There is a lot of action to come after this chapter, just bare with me. I had to get the introductions out of the way before doing anything else. PM me with any questions or criticisms. Hope you like it, leave me a review if you do - MJ123 :) **

It was just before sunset when Norma drove into Phoenix. Moving through all the neighborhoods and shopping centers, a wave of horrific nostalgia washed through her. Once she passed by the R &amp; D Market, where she would always pick up her groceries, she had small memories of the bruises and bumps covering her face after a recent encounter with Sam. Or when she zoomed past the hospital and a flashback of her busted lip came into her mind. Wanting to get out of the nightmare, she shook Alex who had been sleeping since they passed through Mesa.

"Hey honey, wake up" she whispered gently. Norma watched as he began to stir with a confused look on his face. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, and refocusing on her. "Where are we?" he yawned, relaxing against the leather seat.

Norma looked over at him with a warm smile, rolling the window down to get some air in the car, the heat was getting to her already. "We just got into Phoenix" she answered, pulling into a familiar convenience store. "I'm stopping to grab some water and new sundries. Do you wanna call someone to tell them you're here?".

Alex nodded. "Yeah, I'm going to call my aunt. She was Chris's mother and wanted to know when I arrived. I'll just give her a ring while you grab the stuff" he said, taking out his cellphone and quickly dialing.

She nodded and headed out of the car. When she went in she was happy to not notice anybody. Norma lived in Phoenix for 17 years and totally feared seeing people she knew. They would all ask her questions about why she left and where she went. She wasn't prepared for strangers prying into her private life.

She strolled the aisles picking up a few large bottles of water, a bottle of Aleve, a box of condoms, toothpaste, and a small bag of razors. The zit faced, disinterested teen rung her up and she quickly descended the store before anyone she knew could come in. Norma had officially come to the conclusion that she would stay incognito through the whole trip.

Walking back out to the car, she reached into the passenger window and handed Alex the plastic bag. She moved back over to the drivers side and climbed in, restarting the ignition. "Did she pick up?" she asked, pulling out of the parking lot.

Alex nodded, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. "Yeah. She uh- actually said that she wanted us to stay with her for the next couple of days. She's offering us the guest room" he sighed, focusing on the road.

Norma thought for a moment. Meeting Alex's family members? Part of her was almost excited but the majority was nervous and jittery, not sure of how they would perceive her. What if they didn't like her and thought she wasn't good enough? She took a deep breath and glanced at Alex with a small grin. "Okay. That sound nice, I'd love to meet some of your family" she encouraged keeping a tight grip on the wheel.

He stayed quiet and watched her. "Okay. I'm sure my aunt and uncle will love you, they're pretty friendly people, acceptant".

She sat in anticipation. "Well, why don't you tell me a little about them before I actually meet them...you know just so I can pull the old line "I've heard so much about you" she mocked with a laugh.

"Alright. Fair warning, I haven't seen them in a few years so some of the information may have changed by now. My aunt and uncle actually met in preschool and always hated one another growing up, and then once they hit high school they fell in love and married after they graduated. They had Chris and settled down in an ideal neighborhood nearby. My aunt got a job as a kindergarten teacher and my uncle was a firefighter but he retired about five years ago. That's about it" he chuckled, watching her expressions.

"They sound like good people. I'm a little excited" she laughed, taking his hand and resting it on the armrest. "So, where do they live? Did she give you directions over the phone?".

Alex took out a piece of paper from his pocket. "When I was on the phone with my aunt she gave me the name of the street she lives on," he began, unfolding it "They live on 13 Wilsure Ave".

Norma nodded, thinking as she drove. "I think I know where that is…" she said, trying to remember where everything was. In that moment she really wished she had a map or a proper GPS system. She drove around aimlessly for a good half an hour before finally finding the street and the house. It was relatively nice, well furnished. She pulled into the parking lot and turned to Alex with a half smile. "Ready to go in?".

He nodded, getting out of the car, and stretching his legs. Alex paced over to the trunk and took out their luggage, thankful that they only brought one bag for the trip. Norma walked over to with a smile. "Are you nervous?" she laughed.

He set the luggage back on the concrete and wrapped her into his arms, pressing her softly against the car. He ran a hand through her blond hair and brought it around her neck for support. He leaned in to drop a huge kiss on her lips. "Not at all. Not with you. Just be yourself and charm them with that beautiful smile" he chuckled, kissing her cheek once more before letting her feet touch the ground again.

She placed a hurried kiss on his lips before grabbing her purse from the car. As they walked up the steps to the home, Norma could feel her heart rate going up, she was incredibly nervous even though Alex was calm. He knocked hesitantly, keeping a tight grip on the luggage. The door opened suddenly, a petite woman with brown wavy hair answering.

"Alex!," she cheered, leaning out to grasp him into a tight hug. "How have you been?" she asked with a giant smile and a pair of kind eyes.

He slipped his hand in Norma's and gripped, "I've actually been great. And I uh- wanted to introduce you to someone very special to me. This is Norma Bates, my girlfriend" he smiled, kissing her cheek, not caring that she saw their affection. Norma extended a hand and shook with the warmest grin she could give. "It's so nice to meet you. Alex has told me so many nice things" she complimented. She felt happy at that moment, it was different than the time she met George's parents, there was no more of that fake and phoney feeling.

"Well, I'm Laura. It's very good to meet you too" she smiled. "Why don't you both come inside. Norma, I'll introduce you to my husband Patrick".

Alex walked through, leaving the luggage by the front door and tightening his arm around her waist. Soon enough, a taller man with greying hair came out of what seemed to be an office nestled near the stairs and the living room. He immediately paced over to the couple and gave them a kind smile. "Alex, it's wonderful to finally see you" he exclaimed, giving him a small hug. He pulled back and looked to Norma. "And who, may I ask, is this lovely woman?".

Norma felt her cheeks getting redder. Laura piped up, patting her husband on the shoulder, and moving next to him. "Patrick, this is Norma Bates, Alex's girlfriend" she smiled, shooting a cheerful glance Alex's way. Patrick politely shook her hand and grinned. "So nice to meet you, Norma".

"It's good to meet you as well. You have a beautiful home" she complimented, still holding onto Alex's hand. Laura and Patrick both looked at each other with a smile and walked the pair to the vacant guest room.

"I set it up for you two. There are fresh linens and towels in the bathroom closet. We'll let you both get settled in and put your stuff away. I put some hangers in the closet in case you had anything that needed to be hung and there is some available drawer space" she smiled, looking at the both of them.

"Thank you so much for letting us stay" Norma said with a shiney smirk, taking another look around the room. It was clean and quaint, just the way she preferred. For once in her life, she felt like she was apart of a normal family dynamic, with two happy caretakers and someone to love her unconditionally.

Once Laura left the room and shut the door, Alex put the suitcase on the mattress and opened it up, taking out their clothing. Norma took the articles from his hands and placed them in the open drawers. She put both of their funeral outfits in the closet, so they would stay neat for the upcoming day. Alex snaked a hand around her waist as she closed the closet. "I think they really like you" he murmured in her ear, kissing the side of her cheek.

She took a breath of relief and turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "That's good to know...I was so nervous about meeting them. They are just so kind" Norma smiled, rubbing his cheeks with her fingertips.

"Yeah, they are. I told you they were good people, hard working and caring" he laughed, picking her up and walking her to the bed, placing her down. Alex lay on top of her and kiss her face. He was so happy that his Aunt and Uncle were acceptant of her because she really was everything to him...Norma was his whole world and he longed to share that with people.

They paused when they heard a knock at the door, "Dinners ready" Laura said through the wood, wanting to give them privacy and space. Norma and Alex got up, straightening their clothing and heading out to the kitchen.

Norma took note of how nicely the table was set up, everything looking nice and polished. Alex pulled a chair out for her and let her sit. He took the seat next to her and took her hand under the table. "This looks delicious" Norma said to Laura with a small grin.

"Thank you, dear. It's my specialty" she answered, filling everyone's plates high with rice, salad, and steak. "I hope you all like it".

They all dug in with wide smiled of enjoyment. Laura was a fantastic cook. Both she and Patrick asked Norma a variety of questions, none of them made her feel uncomfortable or out of place, she knew they just wanted to get to know her better. They were simple questions like what she did for a living, if she had any kids, and how she met Alex. She was abundantly happy that they didn't ask about her early life or anything before meeting Alex.

* * *

After the group finished their meals, Norma rose to help Laura with the dishes, she was grateful for the assistance. As they stood at the sink washing and drying, Laura kept with the easy questions. "So, how do you feel about Alex?".

"Alex is amazing, he is the greatest guy I've ever met. I just...I love him so much" she laughed, drying a glass with the wash rag and staring ahead with a pair of glittering eyes. She was pleased that she could finally open up about the relationship.

"That's wonderful. I see they way you two look at one another, you both have sparkles in your eyes" she claimed, with a smile.

"I can't help it" she laughed, placing the final dish down on the drying rack. "Whenever I look at him it's like I turn into a schoolgirl or something. I mean, you probably feel that way when you look at Patrick right?" she asked, turning towards her.

Laura shut the sink off with a smile. "Of course. Let me tell you that in 25 years of marriage, I have never lost that sparkle for him. He's not perfect but he's mine and I love him deeply. I've know it from the moment we moved into this house that we were going to be together for a long time. And I can't say that it's always perfect, because it's not. Love is pain...it takes a lot of hard work to make a relationship successful".

"Boy do I know it" she sighed, her thoughts trying to stay away from bad memories and stay focused on Alex. "I just want to let you know that I will never hurt your nephew, I'm going to try and make him as happy as I can".

Laura just smiled, patting her shoulder and walking out of the kitchen. Norma stood with happy thoughts of her and Alex being together for a long time. With that, she walked into the guest room to find him sleeping on the bed. Norma quickly changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, trying her damndest not to wake him. As she watched the peace flood his handsome face, she felt good. She loved seeing him so at rest.

Norma knew she'd strive her best to make him happy.

**Like it? Leave me a review and tell me your thoughts :) **


	26. The Funeral

**Short chapter I know. But I hope you guys like it. I'm trying to work in a few surprises for the next couple of chapters and it might take a while. Anyway, let me now what you think and give me any prompts if you have ideas. I love all my readers and hope you guys are still loving this story! Enjoy - MJ123 :)**

As the morning sun crept through the curtains in the guest room, Alex's eyes flickered open. He gently rolled on his side, watching Norma sleep. She was incredibly beautiful at rest. There were no signs of anger or anxiety on her face, she was completely tranquil. He reached out and ran his fingers along her arm. He observed as her blues crept open, immediately setting upon him. She smiled and scooted towards him, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck.

"How did you sleep last night?" she asked, her voice thick and groggy from just waking up.

Alex grinned, clearing a few strands of hair away from her face. "I slept pretty great. What about you? Did you get enough rest?" he questioned.

She nodded, sitting up, and slipping into her robe. Norma looked to the alarm clock near the bed and then back at Alex. "It's 10:30. Do you think we should go downstairs and see if they are up yet?".

He rubbed his eyes and groaned as he rose off the mattress. He walked to her, taking her face in his hands, and kissing her lips. Reaching for her hand, he piped up, "Let's go".

* * *

Laura was just cracking the last egg in the frying pan when Alex and Norma walked down the stairs. "Good morning. How did you both sleep?" she asked, mixing the egg batter around on high heat.

They both looked at each other and answered simultaneously. "Good".

"Happy to hear. There's fresh fruit on the table along with some toast, and if you give me two seconds I'll be finished with the eggs" she exclaimed, taking the food of the stove and scraping it into a glass bowl. "I'm sorry Patrick couldn't join us this morning. He's uh...he's at the funeral home, preparing for later".

The couple waved her off and said it was fine, they understood. Norma watched Laura move around the kitchen with the utmost sympathy in her heart. She could never be able to imagine what it would be like if she lost Norman or Dylan. They were the only family she could count on after all. She opened her mouth and caught Laura's attention. "I'm so, so sorry for your loss" she said, her voice gentle and empathetic.

Laura sniffled and put the breakfast dishes in the counter. "Thank you, dear".

Alex loved seeing Norma so caring towards his family. His hand fell to her lower back and pulled her closer to him as she sat. "What time is the service today?" he questioned popping a piece of cantaloupe into his mouth.

She cleared her throat, pouring a quick cup of coffee, and joining them at the kitchen table. "It's at 3 pm. It's only about an hour long". Alex nodded and picked at the eggs in front of him, glancing up briefly. "Will Judith be at the ceremony?".

Norma gave a confused look when he asked, wondering who Judith was. Laura rolled her watery eyes at the name, giving an obvious look of distaste. "No, thankfully. You want to know the reason she claimed she couldn't be there? She said her and Chris were about to file for divorce and she wouldn't feel right about attending. She felt like it would be awkward," she scoffed, sipping her coffee "Can you believe her?".

"Well, I mean it's not like any of us liked her anyway. She was always very cold and distant" he agreed. Norma looked at both of them while chewing. "Who's Judith?" she asked, with an eyebrow raised.

Alex turned her way and took a deep breath. "She was married to Chris. None of us really liked her, she was a pretty big complainer and she always had something rude to say about someone. I can remember Chris's bachelor party...I asked him if he was positive that she was the right one for him and he just shrugged me off, telling me that no one really understood her like he did, and that we all had the wrong interpretation of her".

Laura nodded from across the way. "I felt the same way. I would always tell Chris that she wasn't the right person for him. I knew from the minute he brought her home for Patrick and I to meet. She was just very stiff and hard to get along with. She could also be very materialistic. I remember when he proposed to her and she said that if he got her a bigger engagement ring, she would marry him. To be completely honest...I wish Chris never met her" she sighed, getting up to put dirty dishes in the sink, rinsing them.

Norma shot a weird look Alex's way. "She sounds like quite a piece of work". He looked at her with a nod, standing up from the breakfast table. "Well, I'm gonna go get ready for the day. Norma will you help me get my clothes ready?" he asked, desperately. She stood up with a tiny smile, adoring that even at his age he still needed help picking out his outfits.

Alex started walking back up the stairs to their room, before Norma followed she turned back to Laura. "Thank you so much for making breakfast, I really appreciate you letting up stay here. If you need help with anything at all, let me know" she said sweetly, watching her elbows move as she scrubbed the dishes.

She shut the running water off and turned to her with a minimum but grateful smile. "It's not a problem, my dear. To be completely honest Patrick and I are incredibly happy to have both of you here," she paused to sniffle, wanting to hold it together and seem strong for the rest of the day "You're both welcome here for however long you need".

"Thank you" Norma cooed, walking out of the kitchen quietly. She trotted up the stairs, slipping into the guest room to find Alex on the bed, holding two different suit ties on his laps. "Honey...which one do you like better?" he questioned.

Norma took both ties from him and held them up to his shoulders. "You should wear this one" she said, choosing the small one with light brown pinstripes. "I feel like it brings out your eyes more". He took it from her and placed the article on his suit. He took it from her and placed the article on his suit.

"Okay" he said, rising from the bed, and taking her hips in his hands. "I'm going to take a shower while you put your ensemble together" he began, swaying her to each side "Just make sure you don't look too good, I wouldn't want people looking at you like your single" he smiled.

She gave a small laugh and grasped his hand, pulling him closer to her. "You don't have to worry about anything...I'm all yours" Norma cooed, kissing his cheek.

Alex rose an eyebrow, lifting her up off the ground, and wrapping her legs around his waist. "You're all mine, huh?" he asked seductively.

He pushed her against the wall behind them softly for support. Alex leaned forward to kiss her lips softly, stroking her bare thigh with his fingertips. The smell of his aftershave filled her nostrils and she felt herself grow more and more aroused. He ran his lips along her neck, whispering sweet words of praise into her skin.

Norma let her fingers scratch around his upper back. "All yours" she murmured, allowing her head to hit the back of the wall. Alex pulled back to observe her angelic features.

"I'm so damn lucky to have you, Norma" he exclaimed, letting her feet drop back down to the floor as he enveloped her in a tight hug, never wanting to let her go. He smelt the warm vanilla scent that clung to her skin and felt the comforting heat of her body. "I just...I hope you understand how much I love you".

She latched to him harder, loving the feel of his body pressing against her own. "Of course I do, Alex. And you know I love you as well" she cooed, holding his face in her hands. "Now, you have to go get ready".

He wordlessly gave her a short and sweet peck on the lips and moved into the bathroom.

* * *

Soon after, Alex and Norma were both dressed, ready to head to the funeral service. Laura had left a little after breakfast, wanting to help prepare for her deceased son's memorial. They were standing at the front door, when Norma looked down at her outfit. "Do I look okay? Not too...slutty is it?" she asked, her dress was a tad shorter than that of what she typically preferred but Arizona was steaming hot on that particular day.

"You look gorgeous. Don't worry about looking slutty," he laughed, dropping his hands to her sides, "It's about 90 degrees outside, so I think everyone in attendance will have shorter clothing one...at least the women".

She placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "Are you ready to go?" she asked with empathy coating her delicate voice.

Alex simply nodded, taking her hand and heading to the car.

* * *

When they arrived at the church, Norma could barely find a parking spot, as the event was flooded with people. She silently took note that it was the same church Sam's funeral was held at, the last time she had been there, everyone was looking at her, silently mourning for the "poor widow" who lost her "wonderful" husband. She shook her mind of the reverie as she found an empty spot right in front of the church.

Alex stepped out of the car, observing the large crowd of people. Some he actually recognized and others seemed to be casual friends of Chris who he'd never met in his life. He was almost intimidated by the crowd of people, so he clutched Norma's hand in his own and walked into the church.

They took a spot in the back. The rest of the pew was empty except for them, they preferred it that way. Neither of them wanted to sit next to blubbering participants who couldn't keep their emotions in check.

Norma moved closer to Alex and re-hooked hands. "This was a really great turn out" she whispered, re scanning the crowd with curious eyes.

He nodded and placed a mouth near her ear. "Yeah...to be honest, I never knew this many people were close to Chris. I mean he was a great guy but when it came down to it, he could be pretty shy, I never would've imagined he could connect with so many".

They both stopped talking once the pastor came out, giving the cliche introduction about Chris, his early life, and his untimely death. The next few minutes after that were spent singing "Amazing Grace" and a few eulogies were given by people who weren't too torn up to go and say things about Chris.

Once the service was over with, Alex and Norma opted not to stay for the reception. There were just too many people and crowds that were too large to dodge, so they headed back to her car. Norma got in and started the engine, but Alex stayed put on the gravel. She rolled her window down with a confused look. "Are you not going back to the house?".

"No, my uncle wants me to say hello to a few distant relatives who wanted to see me...but you head back. I'll be there soon enough" he said, giving her a brief smile.

She returned the smile, with nothing but sweetness on her face. "Okay".

**_Let me know what you think. Let me know if your still reading. Let me know if you like the Normero antics. Just...let me know ;) Leave me a review if enjoyed. _**


	27. Pulled Out Of Darkness

**Many of you are probably wondering why this is such a short chapter. There is a lot to it so I didn't want to go overboard. Anyway, I hope everyone likes it. I'll be back soon with the next installment. Love you all, Enjoy. - MJ123 :)**

It was a bit darker outside once Norma finally pulled into Laura and Patrick's parking lot. She got out and walked up the stairs to their home, dying to get out of her pumps. When she made her way inside, she automatically kicked off the shoes and slid into the kitchen.

"Hello, dear. Can I get you anything?" Laura asked, she was sitting at the counter with a mug of tea in front of her. Her face was still a bit red from the tears that were shed at her son's funeral.

Norma gave her a look of confusion. "No...no I'm okay," she exclaimed, taking the seat across from her, "Why aren't you still at the service?".

Laura sipped her tea and glanced up, making eye contact with her. "It was just too sad for me. I couldn't be there, I love my son more than anything else on this earth, and to see people mourning him was too hard" she sniffled, not wanting to reignite the stream of tears that fell earlier.

She held up her hand and shot an understanding expression Laura's way. "I understand completely, believe me. I have two boys of my own" she admitted.

Laura was happy that she could bring up something that moved the topic away from the funeral and her son's death. "They must be younger, huh?" she smiled.

Norma laughed at that, shaking her head. "Actually no, Dylan is 24 and Norman is 18".

"Hold on a minute...Norma and Norman. What struck that?" she laughed.

Norma smiled sweetly. "You know that's one of the first question your nephew asked me when we met for the very first time," she laughed a little more now, the thought of nostalgia hitting her, "Normally, the boy takes his father's name but my ex-husband and I figured we'd change it up a little bit. I wanted him to have something related to my name. Norma actually came from my grandmother, she was a lovely woman, very tough".

"That's kind of cute actually" she smiled. The conversation went silent for a few moments, when Laura took Norma's hand across the table. "I...Patrick and I are thrilled that Alex brought home someone like you. We were about to give up hope on him finding a woman" she said with a serious look on her face.

"Why? Because his schedule is always busy? I mean he's the sheriff of the whole town. It takes a lot of time, effort, and work to get to where he is. I can't tell you how much he's done for my family and I" she admitted, enjoying the feel of care she received from Laura.

"No...nothing to do with his profession" she said with a confused face. "He um...he told you about what happened a few years back, didn't he?".

Norma sat puzzled for a few seconds, thinking about everything Alex told her. "Well, when we met he was incredibly stoic and just hard to get along with but after about two years I think I broke through his shell. Since then...he told me about his family. That his father was an abusive, alcoholic and his mother was a runaway drug addict".

"Well, yes that's all true. But…," she stopped for a pause, taking a deep breath, "Didn't he tell you about Callie?".

Norma's heart was beating in her chest, her constitution grew weaker by the moment. She had so many questions rattling around in her head. Who was Callie? Was she some girl Alex was hiding in White Pine Bay? She didn't want to jump to conclusions. Finally, she just decided to break, not wanting any secrets with Alex. "Who's Callie?".

Laura took another deep breath and reconnected eyes with her. "When Alex was training in Portland for the police force, there was a coffee shop across the street that he would always go to afterwards. Doing that, he met Callie, she worked at a small art museum next to the force station. She was lovely...incredibly beautiful and a total free spirit. She was a struggling artist when Alex met her. Their attraction to one another was almost instant. Anyway, they bought and moved into a house after around three years together. Soon after that, Callie became pregnant. God...Alex was...Alex was overjoyed. He was always telling us about the baby, looking forward to being a father. We'd never seen him that happy in his life...he was almost giddy" she explained, taking a harsh deep breathe, getting ready to delve deeper into the story.

"One night when Alex was on duty and Callie was at home, I guess she needed something at the drugstore a few minutes from their home, she didn't want to bother Alex because she knew he was working. It was around 12 am when she got on the road...it was pouring down rain on that night. She just started driving and uh... it was really dark, she could barely see anything...there was a drunk driver on the road that night. I guess he drifted into the wrong lane and hit her car head on. It was...it was a fatal collision" she revealed, her eyes about to water over. "Alex was the one who had to find her like that...and he just couldn't handle it".

Norma couldn't say anything, she was in plain shock. The story certainly explained why Alex was so inward when they met, she always knew there was something big that he was hiding. She felt bad that he wasn't comfortable telling her about it. At that moment, all she wanted to do was see Alex and wrap her arms around him. A guy like him didn't deserve to go through such a horrible loss. She rose her head, looking at Laura. "What happened to him after that?" she asked with concern.

"He slipped into this deep depression. I mean it was awful...Alex wouldn't get out of bed, he wouldn't eat anything, he took a four month leave from work. He wouldn't even speak to anyone. That's when he turned stoic and stone faced...when you met him, that wasn't the real Alex. That was the depressed version of him. But I have to tell you something, Norma...that man loves you so much. You can tell, he hasn't had this kind of energy or happiness since...well...Callie" she smiled, tightening the grip on her hand.

Norma was overjoyed to know Alex loved her to such a multitude, she would have never guessed. "That really means the world to me. I love him too...he's done so much for me. I've needed stability for a long time now and Alex is perfect. Sometimes I wonder if he's too good for me and other times I worry that he will leave me because he'll end up finding someone better".

Laura shook her head abruptly. "No, no, no honey. Believe me when I say you two are perfect for one another, you're so good together. Patrick was just saying so last night, you guys have great chemistry. You never have to worry about Alex leaving you...he's such an amazing man and he's impeccably loyal. You pulled him out of depression, Norma. If he lost you he'd be heartbroken".

She gave her an almost astounded look. "I pulled him out of his depression? Me?," she paused, scoffing lightly at the thought, "Are you 100% sure about that? I mean...I know he loves me, I get that. It's just I can't believe it. To be honest with you, Alex hated me when we first met. Then again, I'll admit I can be a bit...abrasive sometimes" she explained, crossing her legs and looking her straight in the eye, anxious for an answer.

She laughed slightly, shaking her head. "I'm sure you weren't that bad".

Norma stifled a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh if you only knew...I mean I was always stopping by the police station asking for his help with the endless shit that never quit storming into my family's life. I was just such a pain in his ass...I'm shocked he could put up with me. And I'll tell you something, it certainly wasn't love at first sight, Alex had to grow on me. It wasn't until a year later, I finally realized how protective he was, what a good man he could be...I'm a sucker for strong, reliable men" she blushed, biting her lip.

"Well then, you found your perfect match with him. I know for sure that Alex always takes care of the women he dates, he puts them first, and treats them with the utmost respect" she promised with a kind smile.

At that same moment, Alex walked into the kitchen, moving behind Norma, and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Hi" he greeted, pressing his lips into her warm skin. She rested her arms on his and looked at Laura who got the signal.

"I'm going to lie down for a little while...it's been a long day" Laura sighed, walking into the master bedroom.

Alex twisted Norma around in his arms and kissed her lips quickly. "That was a beautiful service" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yeah it was. Chris would've loved it. A lot of people came up to me after and told me stories about him, what a great guy he was, and of course how they were all happy Judith didn't show up" he laughed softly.

Norma stayed silent and stared into his eyes, reaching up to run her fingers across his cheek. She had no intention of bringing up Callie, she didn't want him to be sad or angry with her. She just wanted to appreciate him. She was practically gazing at him, her eyes shiny.

"What?" he scoffed with a wide smile across his face.

"Nothing. I just...I love you" she cooed, giving him the warmest smile she could. Her eyes stayed sunny and bright, her grip around him strengthened. He returned the grin, "I love you too, Norma".

He leaned in then, planting his lips firmly to hers for the thousandth time. He pulled back to push her hair behind her ear. "Now, what do you say I take you out for lunch?"

"I'd like that very much".

"Let's go".

**Leave me a review if you liked it or have any criticisms xoxo **


	28. Hitting The Bullseye

**Happy New Year to my fantastic readers! I love all of you so much and hope you all had a happy holiday and a great beginning to 2015. Anyway, this is a super long chapter in celebration of the New Year. Hope you all like it. (The next chapter may be rated M for some smutty beginnings and pillow talk). Leave me a review if you like it or have any plot suggestions/questions. Enjoy - MJ123 :)**

Soon after leaving the house, the couple found themselves in the parking lot of a little diner amongst the numerous beautifully furnished homes and wide shopping centers. The second they pulled in, Norma turned to Alex with a smile. "You know...this is the first place John and I went when we first came to Phoenix" she said, stepping out of the SUV.

Alex shut the engine off and joined her outside. "It's quaint...reminds me of one of those fake 50s diners. Y'know the ones where the servers dress up as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio" he exclaimed with a laugh, moving towards the entrance to hold the door open.

She walked in with a smile, grateful for his chivalry. "I like those diners. It must be like Halloween everyday for those people". Norma snagged them the first booth she could find, he soon joined, hooking eyes with her from across the seats.

"That wouldn't be such a bad thing. Halloween everyday, I mean. It's nice...pretending to be someone else for a little while. It's like a vacation from reality" he commented, taking a menu, and looking at the various options.

She nodded, observing the specials on the board above the tabletop area. "I always liked Halloween myself. Mostly because I can eat a bunch of chocolate without any shame".

He chuckled, looking up from his menu. "What are you gonna get?".

She thought of the specially recommended dishes. "Um...I'm not sure. The Greek club sandwich looks really good but I'm also eyeing Ranch BLT salad".

"I'm thinking about the fried chicken. I'm a huge fan of comfort food".

"Isn't everyone? That's my favorite thing to cook for the boys. They're all time favorite is my homemade macaroni and cheese. I'll have to make that for you when we get back to Oregon. I think you'll love it" she smiled, putting her menu down.

"I probably would. I'm a big fan of your cooking" he agreed, signaling the waitress. The woman came flying in on a pair of skates which she had no business wearing, she was twisting around uncomfortably to the left and right. "My name is Peggy, I'll be your waitress. What can I get for you both?" she asked with a kind smile, whipping out her notepad.

Alex gave Norma a hand gesture, signaling her to go first. "Can I please get the Greek club sandwich, a side salad with extra cucumbers and Russian dressing, and an iced tea?".

"Sure thing, sweetheart" she answered with a wide grin, then turning her attention to Alex. "And what can I bring you?".

"I'll just have the fried chicken with a side of coleslaw and mashed potatoes. Can I also get a Coke?" he asked, watching her etch the order down.

"Sure thing. I'll be right out with your food" she descended, struggling to move away from the booth.

Norma grinned as she rolled away, her eyes darting towards the booth on the other side of the room. "Fuck…" she muttered, her eyes closing tightly in dismay, automatically she rested her head on the tabletop.

Alex gave her a confused look. "What's wrong, Norma?" he asked, keeping his eyes trained on her. He extended a hand out and dropped it to her arm, rubbing gently as a sign of comfort.

She let out a small sigh, wanting to shrivel up or disappear into mid-air. "That woman over there with the brown hair and glasses. That is Sam's mother...why the fuck does she have to be here?" she said, her skin growing warmer in anger.

"I take it you two didn't get along so good when you were married to her son?" he asked, keeping his hand planted. Alex let his eyes glance over to the woman a few times.

"Not at all. Let me tell you, she was the mother in law from hell. So passive aggressive and condescending, a total bitch. She was so critical of me and the way I did everything. From the way I raised Norman, to the way I acted towards my husband, even how I kept my house bothered her. She always felt the need to find a flaw" she scoffed, trying not to make eye contact.

"She doesn't sound like such a good woman…" he stated, watching Norma's expressions change rapidly as she kept glancing over at her.

"She's horrible. And the worst part was...she always glorified her son. She thought he was the greatest man to ever walk the face of the earth. Always telling me how hard working and respectful he was. If only she saw him slam me against walls, hit me, scream at our son...she was completely clueless to the monster she raised. It doesn't shock me though...his father was a huge booze hound" she explained.

Alex felt his rage build when Norma recapped all the things her deceased husband would do to her. He felt anger towards his mother too...mostly because she was rude towards Norma. "I'm sorry you had to deal with those kinds of people honey...you didn't deserve it" he cooed empathetically.

Norma silently took his hand and kissed it, still feeling anxious to get out of the establishment. "Would you be angry at me if I wanted to get out of here?" she asked, with her lip between her teeth.

"Not at all. I understand completely, we can just go somewhere else" he said, trying to get their clumsy waitress to come back to the booth.

Everything was going smoothly until the pair heard a voice from across the way. "Norma? Norma is that you?" the voice asked. Norma immediately sunk in her seat, feeling sick to her stomach. Alex shot a sympathetic look her way, as she straightened out her body and gave the woman, who was now coming over to their table, a large, plastic smile.

Norma rose to meet the woman. "Hello Deborah" she greeted cheerfully, meeting her hug with hatred running through her veins.

"It's great to see you, Norma. I haven't seen you since Sam's funeral. What brings you back to Phoenix?" she asked, glancing at Alex.

"Ironically...a funeral" she answered, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Oh, well I'm so sorry we had to see one another under such circumstances. How have you been? How's my grandson? Where'd you scurry off to anyway?" she asked, giving her a tiny smile.

"We moved to a small town in Oregon, White Pine Bay. Norman is doing great, he's excelling in school and he has met so many great new friends. I've been good as well, running my own business and um...I met Alex, he's my boyfriend" she said, motioning to him sitting at the table awkwardly.

He stood as well, reaching out to shake her hand. Norma cut in with a smile. "Alex this is Deborah Bates, Sam's mother" she re-introduced.

"It's nice to meet you, ma'am" he greeted, giving her the best thin lipped smile he could, completely following Norma's lead. After all, the woman was one hell of a good liar.

"He's not quite as handsome as my Sam but I suppose if you like him enough…" she trailed off, looking him over.

Alex took that as his sign to exit, so he sat back down at the booth watching the interaction. Norma gave her a glare. "Really? I think he's perfect...he really loves me, he's protective, and treats me like a princess" she said with enthusiasm.

Deborah scoffed and rolled her eyes comically. "And Sam didn't? If I recall, you were perfectly fine with him all those years".

"You know what, Deborah...those 17 years I kept silent for you and your family's benefit but not any more. Though you thought the sun shined out of your son's ass, it didn't. Sam was actually horrible to me. He would hit me, slap me, punch me, and kick me. He would have me clean up his messes all while he called me a dirty slut, a skank, and an ungrateful whore. He would force me to have sex with him even when I didn't want it and worst of all, he would make Norman watch all of this...but don't worry I never let him lay a hand on my son" she said, giving her a nasty look. She turned to Alex who sat astonished at her revelation. "Let's go, Alex".

He rose silently, taking her hand in his and walking to the exit. Deborah stood with her mouth wide open, staring Norma down as she walked to the parking lot. She was a hundred percent sure she could hear her yell "lying bitch" as she shut the door behind them, but she didn't care, she felt good to get all that shit off of her chest.

The couple got back in the SUV and Norma looked at Alex. "I'm so sorry you had to see that, I didn't mean to unleash like that...especially in front of all those people" she apologized.

He said nothing, just taking her head in his hands and kissing her lips softly, pulling away with a small smirk. "You don't have to apologize for that, I'm so proud of you. It's great that you finally stood up to someone who hurt you like that".

She nodded with an appreciative smile, returning his kiss, and setting her eyes back on the road. Alex started the engine and pulled away. "So...I have a question" he started, keeping his attention focused on where they were going.

Norma glanced over at him and rested her arm on the window pain. "Shoot. You can ask me anything".

"Was all of Sam's family bad? Did they all not like you?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

"That's a good question, actually. No, I mean the majority of them did. But he had one brother named Steven. He was so handsome and incredibly kind to me, we were actually good friends. He was always the one to notice bruises and scars on my body...I wasn't shy to tell him his brother was an evil bastard. He was so empathetic, he'd always tell me that he loved me" she explained with a smile.

"Were you guys sleeping together?" he asked quietly.

She stayed tight lipped for a few moments. "Well, we weren't sleeping together. It was only once…"

* * *

_It was early morning in Arizona. Sam had just went to work and Norma had sent Norman off to school with a sack lunch and a kiss on the cheek. She was looking at a decorative list of all the chores and duties she had to fulfill around the house when there was a knock at the front door. She rolled her eyes, putting the paper down, and answering._

_To her surprise and excitement, it was Steven, wearing casual clothes and a relaxed smile. "Morning, Norma" he greeted, but the sunny expression soon faded when he got a look at the golf ball sized, purple bruise gracing her temple. "How the hell did that one happen?" he asked, taking her arm gently, and shutting the front door behind them._

_"Sam came home last night and I didn't have dinner on the table...the house was still kind of dirty because I had to work a later shift at the Holiday Inn and I couldn't make it home in time to get everything done" she explained with a heavy sigh. She was so fed up with being treated like someone's whipping post._

_"Oh Norma...you don't deserve any of that. I'm sorry to say I'm related to him. I hate to see you like this, whenever he marks your beautiful face with another bruise I just wanna kill him" he said, running his gentle fingertips across the laceration._

_"Me too" she said with a nod, retreating back to the kitchen. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"._

_He shook his head slightly and moved closer to him. "No, thank you. I want to clean up that bruise a little bit. Do you have any ointment?" he asked._

_She silently reached up into the kitchen cabinet, taking out a long tube of healing cream, and handing it over to him. Steven pulled her close to him, unscrewing the cap on the tube. "C'mere...this won't hurt. It'll probably make some of the color disappear" he explained with a comforting smile._

_She nodded, "That's good. I hate that they're always so easy to see" she sighed, sitting at the kitchen table with time so he could heal her wound._

_He dabbed some ointment on his index finger and swirled it around on the bruise, rubbing it in slightly, not wanting to press on it too much. Unscrewing the cap on the bottle, he looked up at her, "There we go. It should heal a lot quicker now"._

_She looked him over with her mouth open a bit. His eyes met her own with equal desire. He leaned over quietly, taking her cheek in his hand before kissing her lips softly. Norma followed suit, kissing him back with more force. Soon enough they were both out of their seats and entwined with one another. He reached up, hooking her thighs over his waist, and hoisting her on top of the kitchen counter._

_"I've wanted you for so long, Norma" he whispered before planting his lips onto her neck, sucking at her skin delicately. _Norma blushed at his sweet words, _sliding off the counter, and taking his hand in hers._

_She kissed his cheek and took him into her bedroom._

* * *

Norma looked back at him. "It wasn't very well thought out...it was kind of a heat of the moment situation. I mean, I loved him but like my brother not like a lover. Taking him to bed was a stupid idea. Having sex with him was like taking a horny, inexperienced teenage boy's virginity".

He chuckled at the comparison. "That bad, huh?".

"God, it was like a blind guy trying to hit a bullseye on a dartboard" she scoffed, taking his hand in hers, and playing with his fingers.

"Well, I would give him some credit. As a guy...it's actually pretty tough to please a woman, it's like you all have this secret button that we have to press or else we go down in history as terrible in bed" he defended, glancing at her with a playful glare.

"Lucky for you. You never have a hard time hitting my bullseye...I always come with you" she purred, running her hand along the inside of his thigh.

He looked at her, his eyes burning with desire.

"I can't wait to get you home".

**Let me know how you like it in the reviews :) **


	29. Exploring in the Guest Room

**Short chapter. Feel like I haven't updated in a long time and I feel bad about that for all of you who are still keeping up with this story. Please let me know that you all are still liking it...I feel as though the enjoyment and popularity of this story has gone down big time. I'm a bit upset about it. I may or may not leave this story and move onto a bigger Bates fanfic with a few more characters and a more detailed plot. Just let me know if you want me to continue. Anyway, enjoy. - MJ123 **

The couple busted into Patrick and Laura's guest room in a feverish mist of heat. Alex was pressed against her in every way possible, skimming his warm hand along her legs, his erection was pressed at her core, and his free hand reached up to tangle in her hair. She broke apart in quick panic.

She rested her head on his shoulder as he worked his lips all over the skin of her vanilla scented neck. "Alex…" she started before letting out a strangled breath, "Alex, we need to lock the door". He sighed into her neck, his hot breath hitting her skin only adding to her desire for him.

"Why can't I just tie a sock around the knob instead?" he joked, keeping his face inches apart from her own. She laughed a bit, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was there.

They resumed kissing seconds later, wrapping their tongues around each others with desirous moans and groans leaving their throats. He broke apart to slid a hand near her inner thigh. "This is really hot, fucking with other people in the house" he rasped against her skin, hiking up her dress skirt, and sliding his hand underneath the band of her lacy thong.

Norma's knees almost buckled as she felt his fingers graze her, she grew dizzy as his strokes grew rougher and rougher. She snaked an arm over his shoulders to keep her balance. His fingers moved deeper into her, feeling her wet, velvet, clenching walls.

"Stroke my clit" she begged breathily, her breath hitching as she wrapped hooked a leg around his waist while he rubbed.

Without another second of hesitation, Alex moved his fingers up, curving them as he stroked faster. Norma arched her back out as she felt his fingertips bump over her most sensitive area. He lowered his mouth to her ear, cherishing her writhing body pressed against his.

He nibbling her lobe as he opened his mouth a bit. "You like that, baby?" he asked, growing harder as he heard her moan.

"Yes" she groaned, grasping onto both of his shoulders, yearning to hold out. "Alex, please…" she started, her head hitting the wall in frantic lust. "Please just fuck me".

He torturously detached his fingers from her body, letting them move to unbuckle his pants, and shake them off. Norma ripped her dress off as well, tossing it aside, and laying on the rug next to the bed. Alex rose as eyebrow as he undressed, "You wanna do it on the floor?" he asked with a smirk.

She looked up at him with her stormy blue orbs. "Yeah...if we do it on the bed, they'll hear us" she whispered, thinking about the possible headboard banging against the wall and the mattress springs squeaking.

Alex tore his shirt off, getting on the floor, and rolling on top of her. She slid her panties down to her ankles and leaned up to kiss him. She reached an arm up on the bed, grabbing her purse, and tugging it down next to her. She placed a hand inside, fishing out a condom, and handing it to Alex. His body heat hovering over her alone was enough to take her straight to the brink.

Alex tore the packet apart, tossing the opening aside, and rolling the condom on his rock solid erection. He threw the empty package asude, looking down at her briefly.

He observed her flawless porcelain skin, perfectly ample breasts, and her curly pale locks surrounding her lustrous face. He reached up on the bed, grabbing a pillow, and laying it under her head.

He reached down to take his length, and slowly moved inside of her. He pushed in gently, all the way to the hilt. Alex let out a fiery grown as he felt her tight warmth enclose around him. "How does that feel, beautiful?" he asked, his hot breath skimming across her neck.

Norma arched her back, her head brushing harder against the pillow as she felt every inch of him. She let out a cherished gasp once he was all the way inside. "It feels amazing. I want you...I need you to fuck me" she whispered, kissing his jaw up and down.

He immediately slid in and out of her with fast paced arousal. Norma wrapped her legs around his jolting waist tightly, her fingernails carving into his back as he thrust into her, hitting all the right spots. "God, you're so big…" she moaned, pounding her hips against his as her back scrubbed against the rug.

Her words sent him into a spiral of madness and pleasure. He only pressed into her harder, reaching down up to rub her as he did so. "I want you to come for me, baby. Show me how much you like getting fucked" he growled into her soft skin.

The second she felt him pounding into her and stimulating her most sensitive area at the same time, she thought she was going to explode, she roughly grabbed the back of his head. "Oh, oh - oh my fucking god! Alex!" she screamed, feeling herself implode with explosive bouts pleasure, the heat boiling in her abdomen had simmered down once she came.

When he heard her shriek his name and felt her fingernails dig harder into his skin, he felt like he was going to break. "I love you…" he groaned, feeling the shockwaves of pleasure beat through his veins, and leaning his forehead to her chest as he finally gave out.

Norma took his head in her hands and kissed his lips gently, pulling away to let him control his breathing. He nudged off of her and moved onto his side to face her properly. She tugged the blankets off the mattress above them and pulled it over to cover their bodies while remaining on the floor.

Alex threw a hand over her bare waist and slid her closer into a spoon. "How was that?" he murmured into her neck with a devilish smile on his lips.

She relished the feeling of his body against hers in such an intimate way. "That was wonderful. It always is, I really don't know how you do it every time though. I can tell you right now, I've never faked an orgasm with you...somehow you always know what buttons to push" she explained with a scoff.

"I think it's because there's genuine feeling towards you. I feel like when you really love someone, it carries over when your having sex, y'know? That's probably why it's so good" he suggested, wrapping his arm tightly around her.

She smiled, placing a hand on his arm. "I agree with that. It probably explains why you're the best I've ever had".

He ran a hand through her silky locks of hair. "You know I really am proud of you for today in the diner. You completely blew me away, I know it hurt you to do that but it was a sign of strength".

She gave a sincere look and ran her fingers along his arm. "Thank you. That really means a lot. It's just when I saw her and she started bad mouthing you, I felt like killing her. And when she started talking about how great Sam was, I felt sick to my stomach. The truth had to come out sometime. I'm just really tired of lying down and taking everyone's bullshit".

He nodded, keeping his grip tight on her. "You don't deserve bullshit from anyone. You've been through way too much in your life. And I want you to know that I will always be here to protect you. Okay, Norma?".

She smiled at him, the moonlight shining through the bay window hitting her face, making her glow.

"Okay".

**Leave me a review and let me know how you liked it. Also tell me if you want to this story to be continued. **


	30. Just One Question

**Well. Here it is. Another installment of Black &amp; Blue. I've missed writing for this story so much. I just ran out of plot idea's for quite some time. But have no fear, there will be plenty more of this story to come. And I really hope you all like it. Sorry for the long wait. Leave me some reviews and let me know what you think. As always, happy reading! - MJ123 :) **

It had been a month since Norma and Alex returned home to White Pine Bay after their trip to Arizona. Their relationship started to get more realistic and sail away from the honeymoon phase. They would have their fights here and there but always make up without any further issues. Since they got back to Oregon, Alex had been thinking about taking their relationship to the next level. A level he felt they were both ready for.

It took him three and a half weeks to find the perfect engagement ring for Norma. A princess cut with no exceptions, she deserved the best. He believed it was the right time to propose because he really did love her more than anything.

Alex had dropped by the motel office one morning and slid the black ring box inside her maid uniform pocket. She never wore it anyhow, he tried to think of more clever ways but couldn't find anything else. He went back again after work and saw her through the front office window, tapping away at her laptop. He entered, a smile immediately rushing to his lips once he was in front of her.

"Hey. How has your day been so far?" he asked, taking her hand from across the desk and kissing the back of it.

She grinned as her hand began toying with his fingers. "It's been okay. There have been a lot of reservations because of that damned beach volleyball tournament. I'll tell you, the things some guys will do to see woman jump up and down in bikini's is astounding to me," her laugh sprung from the back of her throat as she made her point.

"I'd pay to see you in a bikini jumping up and down, it's not that weird," he said, his smile turning seductive in no time.

She rolled her eyes and scoffed at his words.

"How was your day? Any heavy crimes you wanna tell me about?" she asked, putting the last few files away in the desk drawer. She shut her work laptop and rested her head in her hands as she watched him from across the desk.

He shook his head and looked outside, "Nah, the only crime I should inform you about is the throw up outside Room 6," he lied, his mind had been racing all day long, thinking of the perfect ruse to make events fall into place and go his way.

She groaned and grabbed a bucket and mop from the closet in the back office, "I just don't understand why someone would leave it there like that. I know this isn't The Hilton but still, show a little class."

"I know, people should have some common decency. I could knock on the door and read them their rights if you want," he offered up with a smirk on his face.

She laughed a bit before walking to the door, "No, I think arrest would be a little bit of an overreaction."

"Wait a sec," he said, taking gentle hold of her arm, "You should wear your maid shirt, it's gonna be pretty messy out there, I wouldn't want you to catch anything if that person had the stomach flu or something."

A smile reached her lips as she dropped the mop to the rest at the wall, "Always thinking of me," she murmured, taking the abandoned maid coat off the wall hook and dusting it off, "Wow...I haven't worn this thing since we first opened."

He rested an elbow on the desk and watched her, "Why don't you check the pockets?". His heart was beating so loud it was a wonder she couldn't hear it. He was so incredibly nervous about his proposal, it was driving him insane.

She immediately glanced up at him, bewilderment chalked all over her face, "Check my pockets?" her voice sounded almost amused by his order.

His expression dissolved to a more serious one, as he stepped closer to her. "You know, sometimes when you find old jackets or pants there could always be spare money in the pockets," he said, looking at her right pocket, which held the black jewelry box.

Norma scoffed playfully and dropped a hand in the left pocket, only pulling a few pieces of lint from the bottom, then moved onto the right pocket, surprised at what her fingers grazed. It felt like something foreign...velvet, maybe? She tugged it out and immediately her heart stopped beating. It was a small black velvet jewelry box, she didn't attempt anything, just looked up at Alex, shock was her main expression.

He was quick to retaliate, gently taking the box from her hand, and getting down on one knee all while holding eye contact. "Norma Louise Bates," he started, opening the box to show her the engagement ring, "Will you marry me?".

Her hands clasped over her mouth as tears sprang from her eyelids, this wasn't her first proposal, but it was certainly the most meaningful. She could tell by the tone of Alex's voice that he was being sincere. Her head nodded yes erratically as she was still too astonished to say anything more.

He took ahold of her hand and slid the ring on her finger, a soft smile on his face. He rose back to his feet and took her face in his hands, "I love you very, very much and I want to take care of you for the rest of my life," he promised.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes, though the tears were still flowing. Her breathing was still erratic from the crying, "I love you too, I wanna be your wife more than anything," she admitted before letting more happy tears flow. He clutched her to him and kissed her jaw as he consoled her.

After a few moments, she pulled away, a huge smile on her face. "We're getting married…" she said, it sounded like the words were foreign to her. "Oh my god," her breath hitched and her eyes lit up as she looked at him, "I'm gonna be your wife!".

The sheer excitement in her voice made him feel the same way. "I'm really excited," he agreed with a chuckle, leaning in to kiss her again.

"Just one thing, though," she said, her voice lowering to a more hushed tone, "I think we should keep it on the down low for a little while. I don't wanna tell Norman and Dylan right away."

He nodded and looked around to make sure no one was coming, "I understand," he said, his hands moving to rest at her hips, "You think I could still come up tonight? Maybe celebrate our little secret?".

"Of course," she murmured, kissing his cheek, and taking him by the hand. She was so excited, her and Alex together, always there for one another no matter what. She'd needed security for a long time and she longed to give him everything she could.

If they planned accordingly and that ring stayed firm on her finger, this would be one of the greatest experiences either of them would experience.

**Like it and want more? Leave me a review! :) **


	31. The Wedding Planner

**Hey everybody! I am absolutely elated with the amount of views this story has been gaining! I wanted to thank you all so much for reading and taking an interest in my ideas for Normero adventures and fluff. The new season is getting so so good right now, definitely one of the best so far. Don't be shy to leave me ideas or comments, I accept good and bad feedback. Also, you can leave your opinions on the new season so far, I'd love to hear what some of you have to say about Norman's mental state, the whole new structure of plot with Caleb, and of course the growing heat between Norma and Alex. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, not the most exciting, I just wanted to give you all a taste of something. Enjoy! - MJ123 :) **

Norma waited until late afternoon to sit at the kitchen table with Alex and go over early, but extremely overdue wedding plans. It had only been a few weeks since their engagement but Norma felt it was ready to delve into ideas for the ceremony, reception, and of course the honeymoon. She wanted this to be perfect, with bells, whistles, and well thought out organization. Alex agreed, the large majority of him wanted to just support her decisions and not get involved too much.

Neither Dylan or Norman knew about the engagement yet, the couple wanted them to find out in good time. Now, Norma sat with pen in hand, tapping it on the notepad as Alex cracked open a fresh can of Bud. The word Location was the first written on the lined paper.

Norma didn't want anything she'd already done before. With John, it was a quick courthouse ceremony, two signed papers, a certificate, and they were out. Then again, she was eight months along with her brothers child, making the whole "ceremony" incredibly unenjoyable. When Sam proposed, he told her it was to be a proper church wedding, family and a priest with no exceptions. That coming from the man who skipped church every Sunday morning for sports and booze.

Alex thought and sipped his drink, "So, where do you wanna get married? You want a traditional church wedding?". Though he wasn't religious, he still brought it up. He know for a fact Norma wasn't highly into religion, as most things that had happened to her were ungodly.

She was incredibly quick to shake her head and blow of his askings, "No way. I've done the church thing before, it was far to serious for me. I kinda want to do something fun? I guess now that I'm older, I don't care about doing stuff the right way anymore," a laugh left her lips as she let her mind race with possible ideas.

"Fun, huh? Like something completely unorthodox or just unique? And who are we going to invite, where will the reception be?" he asked, getting stressed over the details. Alex was a tense man, he didn't like to do things that conflicted with his routine. Work and the wedding was bound to take up all his time.

"Sweetheart, you are getting too far ahead of the list. Let's just focus on a good location, okay?," Norma was starting to fret but soon the right place hit her mind, "What would you say to getting married on the beach?".

He ran her idea over in his head. A beach. Serene, peacefully, fairly quiet, all things he liked. "That's a good idea. And plus we could have a small crowd without it looking to weird."

"Okay, so we've agreed on a beach," she reiterated, jotting the word down on her paper. "Now we can talk about that small group of guests. I was just thinking about Dylan, Norman, Emma, and plus each of them will bring a date. What about you? Who do you want to come?".

"You know me. I don't have a lot of family. But I'm sure my aunt and uncle will want to be there. And uh, I have some friends from the station who I can invite," he offered, knowing it wasn't a lot of people. It mattered that he was trying, that was all he could do. It hurt that he didn't have parents or siblings that would be there, but at least he had Norma, she was all he needed.

"That's is a really small amount of guests, but it doesn't matter. It's cheaper and easier to manage," she smiled, writing the names of suggested attendees on the list. "Now I assume if we are getting married on the beach, our reception should be there too? What do you think?".

"Alright. We could do something casual if you want to. Like maybe an outdoor barbecue and some picnic benches? I don't want anything fancy, I just want people to have a good time, you know?".

She clasped her hand in his and smiled, happy to see him take an interest and come up with good ideas, "Yeah, I know what you mean. I want this to be fun too. Fancy is boring and overdone. I like that idea, I'm sure people will like it."

"How about this," he started, taking a swing of his beer and moving his hand to set on her forearm, his thumb coming up to brush her skin lightly, "You, me, and a bottle of wine. We can go somewhere like an island, where the water is as crystal blue as your eyes, and some big Hawaiian man can help us elope." The joking smile on his lips grew larger as he imagined the sight, nothing keeping them apart but warm sand and palm trees.

She laughed, "I wish getting married was that easy. But I have bad news for you, there is a lot of planning that goes into a wedding if you want it to be perfect and I don't know about you but I want our wedding to be better than that, I want it to be extraordinary. At least we decided on a location and what we want our reception to look like."

"Yeah, I'm happy with what we got done," he smiled, looking at their small list of improvements, "Anything else you wanted to get down? Do we have to do things like catering and uh- flowers so soon?".

"No, no, not at all. Rome wasn't built in a day, this whole thing can't be planned so soon. This is going to take a few months of planning and coordinating for it to be completely perfect. But, um...I really wanted to go dress shopping soon. I know it's super early, I'm just eager to look for something simplistic and beautiful."

A chuckle left the back of his throat as he shook his head, "Norma, you don't need to go all out with your dress. You could wear sweatpants and a tee shirt and you'll still look great. I don't want you to stress over a wedding dress."

"Trust me, the only time you'll see me in my sweatpants in when I don't wanna have sex," she laughed, her mind racing with ideas of a beautiful wedding dress that she would call her own, she wanted Alex to be completely wowed. He would never guess but she had been staying up for the past few nights, a wedding magazine in her lap, searching for the perfect piece of attire. All she wanted was something vintage and adorable that would fit her like a glove. "Would you want to come and look for dresses with me?".

"Sure, I wouldn't mind that at all but isn't there some myth about a man not being able to see his wife in her dress before they get married? I think they say it's bad luck for your marriage or something."

"Alex Romero, you better knock on wood, I don't want to hear the words bad luck and marriage in the same sentence. Not for the next few months that is. But I get what you mean. maybe I'll just ask Dylan or Norman to come with me and hunt for dresses," she thought, laughing in her own mind as she imagined her sons seated in front of a dressing room with various gowns draped over their shoulders.

He was quick to shake his head and banish her idea, "No. Believe me when I say they would hate that. There are two places in this world that you never bring a man. The tampon section of the grocery store and any establishment where they sell clothing. Why don't you just bring Emma with you? I can tell she wants to be apart of the family anyway, I think she'd be really happy if you invited her to search with you."

She thought for a moment and looked back to him, "Well, if I ask her to help me look for wedding dresses, she'll know we are getting married. Should I tell her about the engagement? I mean, I really wanted to keep it secret from Norman and Dylan for a little while, they are my sons and they've seen me go through this twice, I don't want them to worry and think we are rushing into this. I know if I tell Emma about us it'll slip out somehow."

"Well, what if we do something special to let them all in on our engagement. Like a dinner party or something? We could cook a special dinner and sit them all down and maybe break the news to them, you could show off your ring and they'll all see how happy we are."

She smiled wide at the thought of Alex;s sentiment, "That is so sweet, Alex. What a great idea. We could make it really nice and relaxing like our wedding idea and then we should break it to them in some kind of clever way. I'm really excited to tell them now, I'm sure everyone will be really happy."

"They will, Norma. I'm 100% sure that they will all be incredibly supportive, you have to believe that. As long as you have me and your son's and Emma behind you, this wedding will be amazing. You know what I mean?".

"I do."

**Leave me a review or follow if you enjoyed! Will be back with a new chapter soon. Thank you for reading!**


	32. Flirting With Danger

**Hey, everybody! I know I just posted a chapter a few days ago, but I love all my readers so much I decided to write a little something else. I appreciated everyone's views, thank you all so much for making this story what it is and inspiring me to add to it so much. I have more to come for this story and I hope you all enjoy this new chapter. Leave me a review if you have any ideas, suggestions, comments, or criticisms. Happy reading! - MJ123 **

It had been two weeks since Norma and Alex had touched their wedding planning sheet. This was no shock as their personalities were similar, Norma was an expert at putting things off until they faded away and Alex was a procrastinator who vowed on getting things done in the last minute. Norma was frustrated at herself for letting such an important event slip, she promised herself to get on track so everything would run successfully and smoothly.

Alex talked her out of guilt, saying they both had busy lives and the planning process should just come naturally, he claimed if they forced planning it, the experience would be less enjoyable. And because she loved him, it was easy to agree. The couple had planned a nice Friday evening in the midst of all post-engagement stress, they wanted to get some form of takeout, preferably Chinese to suite Alex's likings, and catch a late night movie on cable, something black and white to agree with Norma's taste.

The bride to be, however, was running a bit short on patience as her anticipated groom was running late for their date. Granted, Friday was typically the day he stayed late at work to get extra work done so it wouldn't have to be touched over the weekend, but that was only for a little while. He was supposed to show at 9 pm but Norma's watch read 11. With no texts or calls returned or given, she decided to throw on her crimson trench coat and head out to the sheriff's department.

The drive their was filled with a multitude of anxieties and excess fears. A thousand what if's popped into Norma's mind as the Mercedes smoothly skidded along the winding roadsides of White Pine. _What if he's with someone else? What if he's hurt? What if he stood me up on purpose because he doesn't truly care about this relationship? What if he doesn't care about me? _

Norma was never one with a cool head, relaxation was not a given for her, she had to talk herself into normality and leave any worries behind, serious or miniscule. Once she pulled up to the station however, everything resurfaced making her shake with anger and sadness, which was a true bitch because she didn't even know the truth. When she walked inside, she was met with that same receptionist that had been employed since the first time she was called down for questioning.

The receptionist had lost all attitude towards Norma, mostly because she knew about her and Sheriff Romero's relationship, if she were to test her, than she'd be fired faster than you could say "street crime." Her head popped up the second she saw Norma, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she plastered a phony smile on her face and remained pleasant. "Hello, Mrs. Bates. What can I do for you this evening?," one could actually hear the passive aggressive angst reaping in her tone.

She ignored the woman's words and looked back at Alex's door, shut and private as always, something she didn't need to see at the moment as she was on a mission for validity. "I just need to see Sheriff Romero, it's kind of an emergency. He's not working is he?" she asked, now trusting the secretary she once hated, but hell if you're going to get information out of anyone, especially about the worlds quietest officer, you needed to do a little schmoozing.

The woman was quick to shake her head, an amused smile coming alive on her lips. "No, Sheriff Romero is actually talking with a friend in the break room. She showed up here a little while ago out of the blue and they've been back there," she broke to point to an open room a few doors down from Alex's actual office and then looked back to Norma, "Ever since. She seemed pretty nice. I can let you back if you want to speak with him."

Norma's heat dropped when the word "she" came into her ears. What she was being referred to? A pretty she? A sexy she? A slutty, conniving little she who would do whatever it took to get her hands on Alex? If so, that she had something coming to her. Norma could feel her face getting hotter but slowly decided that if she caused a scene in the office, she'd be prohibited from seeing Alex. Therefore, she sucked up all vicious feelings and nodded with an incredibly forced smile, "Yes, I'd love to see him if you wouldn't mind."

Just like that, the receptionist rang her back and she began pacing heavily towards that damned back room. Once she arrived at the doorway, she peaked inside to see what she was up against. Just as she suspected. A pretty "she." Her hair rested in perfect curls down to the middle of her back, the relax tee-shirt she wore was far too tight only showing off her ample breasts and formed curves, this bitch looked like she worked out at least four times a week, surviving on a diet of steamed kale and fruit smoothies.

Her blood boiled as she observed the look on Alex's face, happy, and almost aroused at the woman that sat before him. Without another thought processed, she walked inside and stared him down. "Hello, Alex," she said, walking closer to him, she knew it was vital to protect what was her's.

He was quick to wrap an arm around her waist and kiss her arm, his elevation made it harder to show affection to anything else. "Hi, baby. What are you doing here so late?" he asked, his voice sounded affectionate and innocent, making Norma want to soften up right away and leave with no further questions asked, but that "she" kept staring at her making it hard to just drop her feelings.

"I just decided to drive down and see how you were doing. I get worried when you stay cramped up in that office for so long," she said, making it seem like less of an issue with a small laugh, her eyes immediately rested on "she", "I'm sorry…I'm afraid we haven't met before, I'm Norma Bates. Alex's finance," her voice had the word possessive drenched all over it as her hand moved back to clutch his head, marking her territory.

She smiled wide and looked up at her, "Wow! Congratulations to both of you! It's so nice to meet you, Norma. I'm Mariah, I was just in White Pine Bay on a... well, I guess you could call it a self discovery mission. I just had to stop by and see my old bestie Alex," she squealed excitedly, looking back to him with a grin.

"Bestie?" Norma asked, her focus turning down at Alex, "What does that mean?".

"Oh my god!" Mariah gushed, with a nostalgic smirk on her face, "Alex and I were best friends in high school. Literally, he was the coolest kid ever. I was a cheerleader and he was a total book nerd, but he meshed with my group of friends so well. We would do everything together, go to parties, practice cheer routines, and we even went to prom together."

Alex laughed at her remembrance, the smile staying on his face as he nodded, "Yeah, yeah, I definitely remember that night. How can I forget when Chuck Wright threw a fist in my face and broke my nose."

"He was a total douchebag! I'm so glad I lost touch with that loser. Last I heard, he moved a few towns over and became a local at the bars if you know what I mean," she hinted with another giggle. That noise made Norma fume. The thought of her fiance to be and some hot girl from high school whom he would do "everything" with both repulsed her and scared the shit out of her. Alex was his, that's why she wore his ring and he carried her legal and personal burdens, never holding them over her, but supporting her.

"Wow, sounds like someone had quite the high school experience," Norma said, her arm draping around Alex's shoulders. He wouldn't get an earful until they were driving back home and this girl was long out of sight. He looked back up at her with a grin and nodded, "Yeah, I did. Hanging out with the popular girls was the highlight of four years being shoved into lockers and being called a sissy."

Mariah scoffed and reached over to tap Alex's arm, "C'mon, you were never a sissy. Well, only after school when we would practice my cheering routines," she laughed, the smile staying at her lips.

Norma hated her hand on Alex, it burned her inside, made her want to walk away and brand Alex with the word cheater. But that's the thing. He hadn't done anything. He would never do anything. At least that's what she told herself. She figured she'd try to win him all to herself later on, right now this little "she" was her main concern.

"So, Mariah, do you have any children or a husband of your own?" she asked, fearing nothing. She wouldn't be afraid to push this girl to the limit.

"Me? Oh no, no. I never wanted to be tied down. I always wanted to do anything at any given moment if I felt like it. I find that children are a burden and men can be incredibly overbearing," she informed, looking back to Alex, "Except you, you're pretty cool."

He laughed and nodded, "Yeah, I guess you can put it that way."

"I have to beg to differ on that one, I mean I have two beautiful boys and not once in my life have they ever caused me any distress. I guess you have to be selfless to be a mother," Norma said, a bitchy smirk on her lips as she enjoyed the words coming out of her mouth. She knew she was succeeding at being an asshole, Alex probably knew it to. The growing silence in the room made her worry a bit, but soon pleased her as she realized she hit a good nerve.

Soon enough, Mariah cleared her throat and looked back up to her. "You know something? My grandmothers name was Norma. She was a lovely women. Died not too long ago actually. We were always really close."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I never met her, just your parents and they were pretty funny," Alex chimed in, the nostalgia written all over his face.

Her grandmothers name? This girl was playing hard ball. She wanted to piss Norma off on purpose, the hatred must've been completely mutual. And Alex just went along with it.

"Isn't that nice? I just hope Alex doesn't see me as a grandma," she joked, her hand tightening on his shoulder.

He turned back with a smile and shook his head immediately, a good thing because if he didn't, Norma would be sure to carry his balls in her handbag. "Your no where near grandma status," he laughed.

She smiled back, making sure Mariah watched their exchange. "Well, I better go. I have a job interview in the morning and I wanna wake up to try and look presentable." She rose from the table, slung her purse over her shoulder, and looked to Norma. "It was really nice meeting you, Norma." Her hand extended and surprisingly, Norma shook it, secretly wanting to rip it out of the socket.

"Yeah, it was good to meet you as well. Always a pleasure to meet any of Alex's friends," she smiled, unlatching. Immediately she wanted a large bottle of hand sanitizer.

Alex rose from his seat and gave her another smile, "It was really great to see you again, Mariah. I appreciate you stopping by to say hello."

"Yeah, of course. It was all my pleasure to be able to say hey," she grinned. And just as that smile appeared, the hug came, when Norma saw it she wanted to flip the goddamn table over.

Alex pulled away and moved back to Norma, watching Mariah walk to the exit, "Good luck on the job interview," he called, she flipped back and smiled before leaving.

Alex turned back to Norma and grinned, "She's nice. I'm glad you got to meet her."

"Yeah," she murmured, latching his hand with her own, "Yeah, she's a real peach." Without another word, she started pulling him into his office. Once reaching it, she brought him inside and shut the door behind them.

When everyone was out of sight and they were complete alone in the darkness of his office, she started kissing him, her hands roaming all over his body with feverish want. She wanted to get the image of that girl out of his head.

He pulled away with a small smile, "Norma, what's gotten into you?," his voice was playful as his hands rested at her waist.

She pulled him closer to the desk and sat on it, tugging him so he stood in between her thighs. She took his head and started kissing him again, leaning back so she lay stretched out on the desk. Once she had him where she wanted him, her hands moved to his belt buckle.

He was incredibly quick to pull back, "Norma, no. Not here," he warned, his voice hushed and gruff from her kissed, he reached down to fix himself.

She rolled her eyes and pulled him forward once again, starting to resume the kissing. He pushed her back gently and shook his head, "Norma, I'm not having sex with you here."

She stood from the desk in anger and pulled her dress straight, "Why not Alex? Why not here?" her voice was sharp as it rose.

He scoffed and looked at her like she was stupid, "Because Norma, this is where I work. A professional place."

"Oh I see, so you won't fuck me on your desk in private but you'll sit and flirt with that whore for hours on end in the fucking break room where everyone can see!," her eyes were a glare and her voice was as loud as freshly struck thunder.

"Flirting, Norma? What the hell are you talking about. She's just a friend. I can't catch up with a friend just cause she's a female?" he asked, his voice just as angry.

"A friend? A friend who wears jeans and cheap, $2 makeup? You think that's harmless?" she asked, she was quick to grab her purse and slam his door open, storming out of the office.

He followed back, taking her arm and pulling her to him, "Norma, you really think I want her? What's wrong with you?".

She ripped her arm away and walked further from him, "You think there's something wrong with me? Fine. Then don't bother coming home tonight, find somewhere else to stay and," she paused, pulling her engagement ring off and throwing it at him,"Find yourself another fiancé!".

Then, she left him there. Alex stood, reaching down to take the ring. There it sat in his palm, his heart aching from her lost presence, the only thing left behind being the scent of her sweet perfume. He'd never seen her like this before, it was harsh, like a blow to his very existence.

The minute she left, he knew he had to get her back.

He _had_ to get her back.

****

**Like it? Let me know with a review! Thank you for reading :) **


	33. Bourbon Soaked Mistakes

**"I think your beautiful". No more to be said. Enjoy this new chapter - MJ123 :) **

It had been two days. Two awful days at that. No calls or texts from Norma. Alex had been confined to his home ever since their fight, she broke his heart, the one that was filled with so much more to give. When he said he loves her, it wasn't just to make her happy or to coerce her into making love, it was because he actually did. He wanted to spend everyday with her, waking up and being able to look into those perfect blue eyes would simply make him a happy man. He wanted to let her head rest on his shoulder when she was sad and he wanted to wrap his arms around her waist when she was happy.

This whole no contact thing was killing Alex. He needed her, she was like some kind of craving. Sometimes, if he wasn't careful and strong enough in his emotions, he could almost smell her apple shampoo or her fresh, flowery perfume that always lingered on her skin, making her like a source of comfort. She was his comfort, period. Everytime he would call her phone, she'd let it go directly to voicemail.

If he sat and thought hard enough, he'd believe the blame was all his. Though the guilt was surfaced and out in the open, he couldn't pinpoint what he did wrong. It wasn't like he meant to hurt her in any way, he never wanted to hurt her, rather protect her from any and all evil in the dark, stormy town they lived in. The truth was, Alex had never been felt so damn vulnerable in his life. His arms were full of emptiness when they should've been filled with Norma's body, his lips were aching for her raw kisses, and his body was hungry for her own.

The worst part was being so lonely. Two days after the incident and he was already feeling lonely. He was so used to seeing her everyday and talking to her, looking at her like she was the only person in the world. Every time her face popped into his mind, it was like a crowbar was hitting him in the stomach. The anxiety and fear of her leaving for good was beginning to become a realization for him.

To make matters worse, he carried her engagment ring around with him everywhere he went. That ring was never, ever meant for another women, just her. He wanted so desperately to slid the token of his affection back on her finger and pretend like their fight never happened. There was one positive thing to come out of the two days alone however, he was able to truly understand why she was so upset. She wanted to wipe Mariah away by having sex with him, but it wasn't like there was any form of competition. He'd texted her that many times, that there was nothing to be suspicious of and he loved her more than he could express.

But the idea slowly trickled into his weary mind. He would get no where by texting and calling her, it would be easy for her to press delete or end call on his propositions. Instead, he stood from his living room couch, grabbed his car keys, and headed out into the night in search of the love he'd lost.

X

It was nearing 9:30 as Norma threw on her sluttiest dress, a tight red ensemble that had been sitting in the back of her closet for quite a while, and spritzed perfume on her body. She tossed on a pair of stilettos and headed down the staircase to find Dylan on the couch, drinking a beer and watching something with girls on a beach in bikini's. Not a shocking sight. His head popped back once he heard the click clacking of her heels on the hardwood.

"Norma, you look nice. You headed out with Alex?," he questioned, a bit confused. It was unlike him to not come in the house to pick her up. Typically, he would come inside and hang out with Norman and him until Norma was all put together.

She shook her head, bitterly and clutched her purse from the coat rack. "No. We aren't seeing one another right now. I'm just gonna go out and grab a drink, it's been a long day and I need to wind down a bit. Where is your brother anyways?," it was completely typical of her to change the subject when things got tough or tension arose.

Dylan immediately gave her a questionable look, her and Alex weren't seeing each other. It had to be some kind of misunderstanding or a joke, even he could see the pair was perfect for one another. Alex gave her the right treatment and Norma reaped the reward silently. They were so alike and compatible. "Oh, I'm uh-I'm really sorry to hear that, mom. He was a really good-"

"Dylan, I asked where Norman is? At Emma's again? Or is he at the library? He told me he wanted to get out and find somewhere silent to study for those damn online tests he has to take." Her tone was growing more and more agitated as Dylan brought up Alex, he was the last person she wanted to talk or even think about.

He got the message, deciding she was incredibly tender and Alex would be a sore subject for a while. "Oh, yeah. He said Emma was driving them both to the library to study for some French test. He also said not to wait up, apparently they are going to grab a bite to eat afterwards."

"Thank you for letting me know. If he comes home before me just tell him I had to get out of the house. I'll be at the bar down the road if you need to contact me in case of an emergency, okay?" she asked, kissing the top of his head before going out the front door and heading to her car.

Booze was going to be a cheap solution to wiping the memories of Alex from her brain.

X

Alex finally pulled up to the motel after making a few stops at the store. He picked up a dozen roses, the most expensive bottle of champagne there was to offer, a blank card he had poured his feelings onto, and a small stuffed bear holding a heart. It was a cheap thing, offering her gifts for acceptance but it was the only thing he could think of. He needed her.

He got out with a bag full of the gifts and threaded up the stairs to the Bates home. He knocked and waited, his heart racing at the thought of being able to see her sweet face once again, only this time he knew it would be laced with the anger she most likely was still feeling. To his surprise and disappointment, it was Dylan who answered, looking him up and down, a bewildered look on his face.

"Dylan?" he began. looking behind him to make sure Norma wasn't inside cowering just to avoid him, "Is your mother here? I really need to talk to her," though sharing their relationship details with her son wasn't the target goal, he had to get to Norma somehow.

"No, you just missed her actually. But um, she said you guys weren't seeing each other anymore. She seemed pretty heated if you ask me. I haven't seen her that mad in a while," he said, looking at the bag in his hand, "What's all that?".

He looked at his full hand and gave a disregarding look, "It's just some stuff I picked up for Norma. I- She hasn't contacted me in a few days and I've started to get worried. We had a fight and she hasn't spoken to me. I just...I miss her and I came here to try and make her feel better."

Looking at the poor guy made Dylan upset himself, he'd never seen him so torn up and sad, it was an out of character move for the tough town sheriff to show this much vulnerability, especially towards another man. He had not idea what Norma did to him but it was probably horrible due to his mood. It was in everyone's best interest if he told Alex where his mother was.

"Well, she headed out about 15 minutes ago. Said she was going to some bar down the road. And if I were to give you any form of advice, I would head down there ASAP because she was looking pretty...suggestive? I don't know. I just wouldn't want someone to see her and use her, you know what I mean? Even if you don't get her back in the couple sense just...uh- just get my mother out of there, okay? She's vulnerable and is probably looking to get hammered and then she'll end up in the back of some guy's car with no clue what time or day it is."

Alex was shocked at Dylan's care for her. He never seemed to bother with her much, but he knew it was his time to swoop in and take her from her probable dank surroundings. He was right, it was no where safe for her to be out by herself that late at night with a group of people around her that had no other intention but to win her over for a night. The men of White Pine were certainly not the type a fragile woman like Norma should be surrounding herself with. That firmly in his mind, he gave the bag to Dylan and turned back with a breif nod. "Can you just do me a favor and put that bag on her bed? I'm going to go and bring her home. It's not best for her to be out there right now, you're completely right, okay? I'll be back soon. She'll be okay, just...just trust me." He said, walking down the steps and to his SUV.

He would find her. He just prayed that she was in one piece.

X

It was a slow night at the bar of Norma's choosing. Not many people around but a few lonesome looking bar flys with no other activity on their agendas but to slowly drink the time away. She had a bourbon resting in front of her, those blue eyes were scanning the establishment for anyone attractive. At that moment, she needed a man to invest herself in, the break up was hard and she needed to get under a man to get over the amazing one she lost.

Slowly, but surely, one bidder finally took the stool next to her own. He was handsome, brown scruffy hair, a little bit of stubble on his face, and a pair of light blue eyes. Those eyes darted to her and scanned her eager face, "Why hello there, gorgeous. What's a woman like you doing here all by yourself?" he asked, she could smell the booze on his breath and it was already plain to see the want in his eyes.

"Mm...not much. Just enjoying a drink and trying to relieve a bit of stress," she explained, sipping at her glass, and giving the man a telltale pair of glassy pupils that suggested so much more than just a good conversation.

"I'm sure. It must get pretty tiring swatting all those guys away, huh?" he asked, his voice slick and sly which Norma would usually disdain. But now, with a decent amount of liquor and desperation coursing throughout her body, his words were amazing, making her want to hop into bed with him faster than she could decipher his name. It's what she needed in that moment, hot, rough sex with a stranger. No strings attached and the perfect way to kill any of the lasting anger correlating to Alex.

A wide smile cracked on her face as she looked down in flirtatious embarrassment, "That's very sweet but if I were swatting dozens of men away, don't you think I'd have a crowd of 'em surrounding me right now?," then came the laugh, the sweet one that made men fall for her. The one Alex was prone to hearing every time he would crack some corny joke about how much he loved her. Alex. _No_. Not tonight. Not for the millionth time tonight. Not at all.

"You sure as hell should," he said with a laugh, flinging back the rest of whatever he was drinking, "I'm Peter."

"Norma," she said simply, giving the bartender a signal for another round of drinks.

"Norma, huh? That's a pretty name. Don't come across too many girls your age with that one."

"Yeah?" she asked, turning completely on the chair to face him, "And how old do you think I am? Go ahead, take a wild guess."

"Hmm…" he buzzed, looking at her face then down at her body, which he had no trouble doing. Norma would've been happy to let him take the full tour if he played his cards the right way, "Well, Norma, I'd have to guess that you're thirty."

Eleven years off but still incredibly sweet, he couldn't say twenty, that would make flattery far too obvious. "Your off by quite a bit but I'd have to applaud you, you've made an old girl feel pretty damn good about herself."

"Old girl? I beg to differ. They're just numbers, Norma. Harmless numbers. No shame in guessing numbers, am I right?" he asked, scootching forward so his body was closer to her own, there was no stopping this attraction. He was going to let it launch without a care in the world. And she couldn't argue, besides she liked her men bold. Bold and mysterious, just like Al-No. No. Not again. He wouldn't come into her mind again.

"Numbers. Okay, well then how about we kick it up a notch? How much do you think I weigh?" she asked, a playful glare directed towards him in order to provake true answers out of a drunken stranger. It was a hobby of Norma's, pushing men until she had them in the palm of her hand.

"Well, judging by the way you wear that dress I'd have to guess 90. 90 pounds?".

"Now you're just being sweet," she laughed, sipping off the new drink that was just placed in front of her. Liquid courage. It was her best friend at the moment, awarding her the confidence she was lacking.

"I thought you wanted to kick it up a notch? I'm just playing the game."

He certainly had a way with words that she liked, fearless and sexy. "Okay, well now I believe it's your turn."

"Alright then," he said, breaking for a few moment to think, somewhere unseen he was fidgeting with his hands, nervous about projecting his question, "How big?".

She looked at him and rose as eyebrow, moving closer off the stool so she was only a few inches away from him. "How big what?".

He grinned and looked behind him to make sure no one was listening and turned back to face her, "How big do you think I am?".

"Well, if I'm following the rules of this game correctly I'd have to guess 9 inches. A thick, 9 inch, cock. Am I somewhere in the ballpark?" she asked, not even thinking about the words coming out of her mouth. At that point she didn't care about what she said or how it was perceived.

He groaned, his pants tightening as he looked into her eyes, his hands coming up to wrap around her waist. "How about you and I head outside and you can take a look for yourself?"

She grinned, setting her drink firmly on the table, standing up in his arms to nod. "Let's go."

X

The encounter was over before it could truly began. There she stood, her back pressed against the cold mossy bricks of the bar building as her late night findings pressed against her, his heavy breathing filling her ear. Their encounter was nothing special and certainly not one for the books. It was your typical quick hookup, pants unzipped, boxers down, dress hitched up, panties down, in and out until some kind of drunken, unpleasurable climax.

He pulled away once he recuperated from his "strong" finish. He got to work fixing himself, until finally he dropped a kiss on her cheek. "That was really fun," he scoffed, a smile on his sly lips, he started walking away without another utterance of her name, hell he probably forgot it the second he pulled her panties down. "Thanks for a good night, gorgeous." With that, he was gone, disappeared into the shadows without another glance back.

Norma couldn't think of anything else. Just, daring to say his name in her mind, Alex. That was all. It was Alex's face that was solid in her mind at the moment. They were his words in her mind as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, immediately regretting the cheap, disgusting thing she'd just done. It was his gentle touch she imagined as she slid down the bricks of the bar, her head dropping to her hands as she wept.

Her tears were the only solitude she could find in such a dark time.

It wasn't a lie that she wanted Alex back. She wanted to collapse into his arms and cling to him until all this shit wiped away.

She needed him.

**Review if enjoyed. Love you all. Thank you for reading, I'll be back with more soon enough ;) **


	34. Don't Let Her Go

"**Can't a woman get into a mood for one frikin' night without the whole world coming to an end?". Leave a review if you like it! Happy reading, everybody - MJ123 :) **

The time on Alex's dashboard read 10:15 pm. He wasn't sure which alleged bar Norma was at but it was taking a hell of a long time to find. Stopping at every single one he came across, he would perform the same procedure; walk into the establishment, look around at all the sad barflys and obvious divorcees, and eventually walk up to whichever biker look-a-like bartender was on the job, and ask for a beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes. When he got constant rejections from all four places he went to, he was so close to giving up. That was until he spotted another bar while he was driving along the road, he sighed and tore into the parking lot, eager for Norma, _his_ Norma that was.

This time, he didn't even have to walk inside the place. The second her sobs filled his ears, he knew it was the right place. His heart was breaking the second her incessant crying filled his ears, luckily he was able to locate her from the weeps. There she was, curled up behind the bar, her head in her hands, and the dim light from the streetlamp highlighting all signs of desperation and loneliness that he himself was synonymous to.

When his eyes observed her, he realized how close he came to addressing her with the obvious, "baby", but he stopped himself, knowing their fight expelled any and all pet names. "Norma," he sighed, walking over to her, and sitting on the ground next to her. She wouldn't even look at him, that's when he knew it was okay to comfort her in the familiar way he knew how. His arms extended to the side, hugging her small, curled up body close to his firm one. His wanting lips rested at the top of her head, though he craved to do more. "What's wrong?", he asked, his voice wasn't mad or irritated in any form, more empathetic than anything.

She still wouldn't look at him, afraid of showing any form of weakness or vulnerability. Yet she had to admit she was thankful, her prayers were actually answered for once, the man she was longing for showed up in just a few minutes flat, holding her just as she wanted. Controlling her breathing and trying to stop the tears from flowing wasn't working in that moment, instead her breath just hitched wildly as she began to feel her body shake.

Alex gave up on trying to get her to speak to him, as oppose, he stood, all while keeping her in his arms until he held her bridal style. He still couldn't see her face though, she had dug it away into the fabric of his shirt, each time he felt a tear seep through, his heart broke even more. He held her snug as his legs brought him back to the SUV. Of course he noticed her car was there too, but he decided to just pick it up in the morning, making the night simpler.

Once he had her safely in the car and he was inside himself, he started back onto the main road. He could tell something was seriously wrong with her and it wasn't just the issue with Mariah, it was more than that. But he still didn't want to pry, that would only make her more angry. He hoped this won him back some brownie points with her however. His eyes gravitated over to her, she still wouldn't bother looking at him. Instead there she was, sitting planted like a little girl, her sad eyes trained to stare up at the moon.

He wanted nothing more than to pull over and move into the backseat with her, showing her his love in a far more intimate form, but he knew it would be a long time before she allowed him to do anything of the sort. She wouldn't even utter a word to him, but thankfully she stopped crying, it still hurt though, the face that he was there to hold her when she was sad and now he didn't get one ounce of gratitude from her.

When the motel was in site, he was starting to get angry at her, realizing she wasn't going to open her mouth anytime soon. The one good thing that was extremely obvious to see however, she was still in love with him, he could tell by the way she suckered up to him in the back of the bar and the way she let him hold her in his arms. He was dying to do just that anyway, scoop her up as if she were a damsel in distress and he was her Superman.

Norma sat, feeling the tension in the car grow stronger and stronger. She was not going to say anything, if she did she'd just start crying all over again. The reason? Shame. Ordinary, everyday shame. Shame coming from sleeping with some man she knew for five minutes, seven if you could their actual encounter. Internally, she felt like a whore. A word she used to describe plenty of women but never thought it would correlate to herself. It felt overly dirty, fucking some stranger behind a vacant bar. And Alex. Alex would have to find out somehow, right? He would know soon enough. She couldn't take it. It was like some form of Chinese water torture. Letting the guilt drip away in her mind, no one else knowing of her behavior but herself. It had to come out. He had to know.

"I slept with someone," she uttered, her eyes still focused out the window, anywhere else and she would've lost it.

Immediately, a trigger went off in Alex's brain. She slept with someone? Someone other than him was touching her? Did that transfer correctly? He couldn't feel anything but a sharp, shooting pain all throughout his body. "You _what_?" he asked, knowing what she admitted to was awful. This was something he never thought she could stoop so low to.

She scoffed and shook her head, angry that he would make her repeat her initial statement. "I said, I slept with someone," she announced, this time far more sharp and with confidence. She should've thought that he would test her, he always did. Secretly, she loved it. But he obviously couldn't know that, not now. Not for a long time. This was going to take some serious healing on both ends.

"Norma," he sneered, actually thinking that she was kidding just to get a rise out of him, "No you didn't. I know you didn't. You wouldn't."

"I did, Alex. I fucked some guy I barely knew behind the bar, okay? I did!," she shouted, enraged, but only at herself. This was a projection of her own actions, she knew Alex was doing nothing wrong, he hadn't done anything wrong. She just never wanted to say anything so awful to him, she knew something like this would sting but she certainly couldn't live with the guilt.

He didn't need any further explanation from her. Instead he just pulled over, forcefully veering off the road and onto some small patch of area. He put the car in park and kept his enraged eyes focused ahead. "Get out." His voice was low, like a snarl.

This time she looked at him, shock being her main expression. "You can't be serious," she expressed, rolling her eyes as she watched him, he wouldn't move.

He wasn't going to look at her. He wasn't going to yell at her. And he certainly wasn't going to lay a finger on her. "Get the hell out of the car," he sneered, his eyes still stuck dead ahead, not daring to move a single muscle.

She didn't press any further, just turned, opened the door, and climbed out onto the ground. She shut the door and started walking away, thinking he would change his mind, but he didn't. He tore away without stopping, she knew she struck a serious nerve. A sigh emitted from her lips, she knew she had to fix her mistake, after all she loved him. Her mind was racing with possible apologizes and gestures, but nothing would be good enough. What if nothing was ever good enough and he refused to take her back? She definitely couldn't lose Alex. Because, besides her children, he was her everything.

X

As he headed back to the motel, anger coursed through his veins. She slept with someone else. One of the dirtiest things she could've done. He had tried, worked his fingers to the bone to keep her happy and safe. He had tried so damn hard to win her love, and when he finally got it, he was the happiest man on the face of the planet. She was his version of perfection, a queen in the right light. And now, his feelings were muddled somewhere in between the lines of the one word that wouldn't stop gravitating his way, _cheater_. Dirty and shallow. Much like her actions, that word was staying stuck in his mind for a long time.

He wanted nothing more than to curse her out and scream at her, but he could never treat a women in such a way. He could say to himself that she acted like a total slut, fucking some random man she barely knew, probably just to get back at him, and for what? For what? Talking with another woman. For the love of Christ, he was just _talking_ to her. It was two old friends catching up for old times sake. Norma treated it like they were having sex right in front of her face.

Despite her cheating and pointless anger towards him, he still loved her. It wouldn't fade away that fast. She was everything. Now, just thinking about her drove him to the point of near madness, broke him into shambles. Slowly he realized that he had done something he never intended to do, not in his whole life, he really fell in love with a women. Let her have control and power over him. And not just by any women, it had to be Norma Louise Bates. Jesus, just her eyes could send someone into a tailspin.

As he pulled into the parking lot, a heavy sigh left his lips. That sharp pain wasn't leaving his body. He knew. It was as clear as day. This is what it felt like to have a broken heart. And if Alex was being completely honest, it fucking hurt.

X

30 minutes after Alex dropped her off, she arrived back at the house. Luckily, both of her boys were tucked away in bed, there was to be no explanation concerning where she was or what was the status on her and Alex. She couldn't handle talking about that night, she was far too burnt out. She just needed some sleep. A good eight hours and then she'd start planning something concerning getting Alex back and making strides to get back to where they used to be as a couple.

Once retiring to her bedroom, she found a lone plastic bag sitting on her mattress. She rolled her eyes, thinking someone was trying to fuck with her, but it was nothing of the sort. Upon opening the bag, her heart started to ache, there was a bottle of good champagne, a card, roses, and a stuffed teddy bear. It had to be Alex. Alex trying to win back her heart.

She placed the champagne and roses on her vanity, taking the bear and the card to her bed. She placed the stuffed toy next to her, letting it rest on a nearby pillow and with a prepared sigh, opened the card. It didn't take long for her eyes to start watering, his handwritten words being too much:

_Baby, _

_I'm sorry. You misunderstood last night. Mariah is just an old friend, she came by my office unexpectedly and was looking for advice on getting a job in town. She is nothing compared to you, Norma Louise. I promise, I'd never try anything with another girl because no one else is needed. All I want is you, just you for the rest of my life. I'm in love with you and I want you to forgive me because you're all I have. Please just try to understand. _

_Love, Alex. _

With those words firmly in her mind, she sat back on the mattress, letting her tears flow. The not stayed firmly pressed against her heart, the message seeping in. He really did love her. And now she had to show him how much it meant to her, having someone like him in her fucked up life. He was her protection, her safe haven, and her best friend.

It was all up to her to get him right where she wanted again.

**Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Leave a review if you have any questions, comments, or criticisms. **


	35. All I Want Is You

**"You're acting like a twit." This one's for all you twits out there, thanks for reading and being so supportive through this story. There will be much more to come. Enjoy - MJ123 :) **

The alarm clock read 4:30 am when Norma sat up in bed with a sigh. When she was lying in bed, she had some ideas that crossed her mind, regarding getting Alex back for herself. Most of the thoughts had to do with a mediocre apology and a promise to remain faithful through thick and thin. But, most of these ideas were exiled from her mind, she knew he would need more from her. She needed something temporary, something that would really make him stay with her for a bit while she thought of something extravagant to wow him back into a relationship.

She stood up and walked over to her bedroom drawers, opening the sacred top holder, pawing through various silky or lacy sets. Her fingers stopped once she found the perfect outfit. It hadn't been touched since her honeymoon, luckily it was still in immaculate shape.

The piece was full white lace maxi, a forgiving neckline cut down midway at her cleavage, and it hung beautifully on her. As she put it on, in awe that it still fit after 18 years, she thought of Alex. This was something he should've seen and enjoyed her in, then again that was the point. It was astounding, how pure and innocent it made her look. The outfit made her eyes pop perfectly and suited her curves well.

With that, she ran a hand through her hair, tousling her locks until they appeared rather sultry. Silently, she crept out of her room and down the stairs, hoping Dylan and Norman wouldn't catch her, it wouldn't look too good, especially with her dressed the way she was. Once successfully making it to the hallway, she slid into her blue trench coat and looked around one more time before leaving the house.

Whilst walking on the pavement and over the gravely parts of the motel parking lot, she looked down pleased with her appearance. She knew there was no way Alex could turn her away, not with her looking the way she did. It was sad, trying to appease him and win him over with her body, but that was the best she knew how to do. This was going to be a messy situation, she knew he was not the type of man that would just go to bed with her when their relationship was crushed. She would have to do some serious apologizes before any type of physical intricacies arose.

She walked onto the motel porch and down the concrete to Room 11. With a deep breath, she knocked, trying to have a look of sympathy on her face. All she wanted was to apologize and get back to normal. She could hear the mattress springs pop up as he rose and his heavy steps to the door.

When he opened up, he flashed her the nastiest look he could, "Oh, how lovely to see you this early in the morning, Norma," he sneered, walking back inside, but leaving the door wide open.

She took that as a cue to walk inside, shutting the door behind her, trying to remain calm as she paced over to him. "Alex, look, we really need to talk. We have to talk to one another," she sighed, watching him stand and look down at her. No emotion coming from his face, it was the same stoic man she'd met three years ago.

"Oh really? Do we? I think you made things pretty clear when you decided to sleep with someone else," he scoffed, internally getting angrier at her, it was sad actually. He wanted to punch a hole in the wall but at the same time he wanted to scoop her up in his arms and kiss her, wiping the mistake away. But this was no fairy tale, she screwed him over in the worst way.

"I didn't decided anything because I wasn't thinking. I had too much to drink and I made a stupid decision. I would never do anything to hurt-"

"Norma, just stop. Okay? Stop it. Don't try to talk your way out of it. And please don't try to soften the blow. The fact that you are saying you'd never do anything to hurt me? You did hurt me!."

She stayed silent and just looked at him, thinking of something else to say that would help her but she couldn't so she stuck to what she knew, "Alex, I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it! You broke my fucking heart!," he yelled, a hand coming up to sit at this forehead, he walked over to sit on the bed, "I should hate you, I should absolutely _hate_ you."

She moved to the bed and sat next to him, still trying to keep some kind of distance, "Do you hate me?".

He smiled sarcastically but it quickly faded away, this time he actually looked at her, making some form of eye contact, "No. No, I don't. I never could."

It was a relief to hear him tell her that, some of the anxiety in her stomach went away, "Good. I um...I don't think I could handle it if you did to be completely honest."

"Why?".

"Because, I love you. I may have done something awful and unforgivable but I do love you. And I feel like a complete asshole for doing something like that to you. I understand if you'd never feel the same way about me again, and if you want to break it off completely-"

"Never," he answered, his voice sharp and the look in his eyes fierce, "Never say a thing like that. I'm not gonna leave you. I don't want to leave you."

"But I broke your heart, you said it yourself," she defended, surprised that his anger had floated away.

"Yeah, you did. But it doesn't mean I can't still be in love with you, for God's sake, two days ago you were wearing my wedding ring. I wanted you to be my wife. I'm not just gonna leave you because you made a bad decision," he scoffed, breaking eye contact with her. It felt good, being able to talk to her in such a way, even though they were in a rough spot, he still felt he could open up to her.

She let silence fill the room for a few moments before looking at him, "Alex," she started, "Do you still love me?".

It didn't take him long to answer, there was no doubt in his words, "Of course I do. More than anything. I'm still mad at you though, I feel betrayed."

"I'm sorry. I really am sorry. I didn't mean to do this much destruction. I-I'm still in love with you, too. I don't want anyone else, I could never want anyone else. Don't think twice about that just because I did something stupid."

He sighed, "I'm not going to say it's okay. And I'm not accepting your apology because I really do think you knew better than to do that. But I want to be with you. I want to fix this. You mean the world to me, okay? I don't want to lose you to some stupid incident."

Even under the worst circumstances, her heart was fluttering at his words, "Okay. Alright, we'll work through this, I promise. You have my word that I won't ever do anything like that again. From now on, I'm yours and yours alone."

He nodded and stood, needing to break away for a few moments, wordlessly he looked down at her appearance. "What is that you have on?".

She stood as well, taking the coat off to reveal the long nightie to him, "It's just pajamas, I found it at the bottom of my drawer," she lied, knowing she couldn't give away her previous, and now stupid, seduction plan. She should've known better, he wasn't a weak man, he wasn't going to forgive her after a round of good sex.

"A little fancy for bed, don't you think?" he asked, his eyes scanning her body. Though they weren't on the best terms, even he could admit she looked amazing. The piece accented every part of her perfectly with no stops in between.

"Eh, I just wanted to wear it. It makes me feel pretty," she murmured, straightening out the lace of the outfit.

"You are pretty, gorgeous actually," he said, the way he said it made the words sound like a fact rather than a compliment.

Before she could speak, her head cocked to the window, her ears flooded with the sound of a car pulling in the lot and a car door opening and shutting. She stood up, walking to the window and peering through the thankfully thick curtains.

Alex moved behind her, a gentle hand placed at the small of her back, judging by the way she stood from his bed, he could tell she was on edge. She was always anxious about things like that. Then again, he couldn't blame her, it was unusual. "It's five in the morning. You guys don't open until eight," he said, looking out the window as well.

"That's odd," she said, looking towards the front office. It was a man. She couldn't tell who exactly, as he was facing the door and not her. She couldn't go outside due to her appearance, after all lacy lingerie was pretty far down on the professional spectrum.

"I'm gonna go outside and handle it, okay? You stay here and sit on the bed, I don't want you anywhere near the door or window if anything happens," he said, going to his bedside table and grabbing his gun out of the drawer, ready to strike anyone that could cause harm to the Norma or her family. He waited until she was seated on the bed, and walked outside, shutting the door tight behind him.

"Excuse me?" he called out to the stranger, gun firmly at his side, "Can I ask what your doing here so late?".

The man turned and saw the gun immediately, he put his hands up and shook his head, "I'm not looking for any trouble. I just needed to find someone. I'm uh-I'm looking for Norma Bates."

Alex's heart started to race the minute he heard her name, afraid this guy wanted to cause harm to her in some way, he was automatically on guard, "Who are you?".

"I'm Steven Bates."

**Review if you liked. Thank you for reading! :) **


	36. What Fades Inside While We're Alive

**"I couldn't stand the thought of you being sad about it, and I thought I could do something or fix it, whatever that means." I hope you all enjoy this new chapter. Review if you enjoy. Happy Reading - MJ123 **

Alex stood, his gun staying put in his hand, looking at the man. His name sent a chill up his spine. Steven Bates, Sam's brother. He remembered Norma telling him that they'd slept together once and that he carried a torch for her. He felt like a moron, standing there just looking at him. He was sure as hell ready to guard what was his, being Norma herself.

It felt like an hour had passed by the time he opened his mouth, he coldn't say Norma was around, he would only want to see her and plus she wasn't in the proper clothing to greet people, "No, uh, no she's not around right now," he answered, praying she would stay put in his room like he asked, he knew following directions was not something she was keen on.

"Well, I know that. It's only five in the morning. I just came in from Arizona with my daughter, we're looking for somewhere to stay," he explained, still keeping look out for Norma. He'd lost touch with her once, he was damned if it would happen again.

_Daughter?_ He thought, growing more sceptical of this man's motives. "I'll tell you what. If you keep driving a few miles up the road, you'll find a place called The King's Motel. They are open all night. There are always a few rooms open," he informed, hoping he would leave as soon as possible.

"Thanks, I appreciate it. I still wanna come back tomorrow and see Norma. When does the motel open?".

"8 am at the earliest. I can let her know you came by so she has a heads up," though he didn't want to offer this man much, there it stood. He figured Norma would go on a rampage the second she found out anyone from her past had resurfaced to White Pine.

"That would be great," he sighed, seemingly disappointed that he couldn't see her when he wanted to, "I'll be back by then, I just wanted to stop by." He then proceeded to shoot him a kind smile and walk back to car, getting in and driving away through the winding roads of the town.

Alex, pleased that Steven finally left, walked back into the motel room and immediately dropped his gun back on the bedside table. Norma shot up from the bed and paced back to the widow, checking out the grounds, "Is everything alright? Who was that?," the nervous questions were shooting out of her like a torpedo.

"Norma," he sighed, taking a seat on the mattress, "That uh, that was your brother in law. He was looking for you."

She walked to him, her face in complete shock. She never thought she'd hear from him again, how did he find her anyway? Her heart started to pump as she thought back to the last time they interacted.

"Steven? What did he want? Did he say what he wanted? Or why he was here?" she asked, her voice had the word nervous written all over it, she was close to stammering.

He just stayed silent and shook his head, "No, he didn't say much at all. Just that he and his daughter were passing through town, wanted to see you, and-"

"Woah, wait a second, wait, his daughter? Steven doesn't have a daughter, he didn't have a family, he lived alone," she explained, her face scrunched up in disbelief. "Are you sure he said that? Did you just hear him wrong?".

"No, Norma. He said "my daughter". Though, to your credit, I didn't see anyone in the passenger seat," he said, thinking back hard, he didn't know why someone would lie about having a child.

"God, I just don't know why he would show up. I left him and everyone else behind anyway. I'm different now and so is my life, I really don't want to see him, I can't see him," she said, obviously stressing out, Alex watched, he could tell she was easily to the point of tears.

She plopped down next to him and he placed a hand at her back, though it pained him to comfort her judging by her recent behavior, he knew it was right. He loved her and he would never leave her sad like this, "If there's anything you wanna tell me, you can. I just, I want you to be completely honest with me. We've already established that I'm not going to leave you."

She sighed, her breath hitching as she averted her eyes from his, a few teardrops leaked down her cheeks as she shook her head. He pulled her into him, his arms wrapping around her sweetly scented body as his nose into her hair. "It's okay, alright? You can tell me," he murmured, rocking her body gently.

"I um…" she started, sniffling and resting her head on his shoulder, "Y'know how I said we only slept together once?".

He nodded, his heart already starting to deplore, the very thought killing him, "Yeah, we were in Arizona when you told me. You said it was awful and it only happened one time."

"I lied," she admitted, backing away from him now, she feared he would get mad again and she couldn't handle seeing him that way, "We had an ongoing affair. It lasted for about a year and a half."

He looked down at the floor and shook his head slightly, his eyes tearing back up to hers quickly, "Why couldn't you just tell me that?".

"I-I...I didn't want you to think badly of me," she murmured, her palm coming up to meet her forehead. "I didn't want you to think I was cheap or easy, I was just so unhappy. I was so unhappy, I needed someone to be there and make me feel safe."

He didn't want her to get worked up again, so he re-wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back, "I understand, Norma. I do, I get it."

She took another deep breath and looked into his eyes, though it was hard to do, this had to be said and it was to be truthful and admitted to his face, "You know how I told my therapist I had a miscarriage a few years ago?".

He nodded, keeping his grip on her tight.

"Alex, it wasn't Sam's baby, it was Steven's. We'd been sleeping together for months and I didn't expect it, it just happened. I lied and told Sam it was his," she cried, the tears dripping down her cheeks.

He hugged her tighter and kissed her head, "Hey, it's okay, Norma. It's alright, calm down," he murmured, rubbing the center of her back for comfort.

Her breath hitched as her body continued to shake, "A-And Steven found out. He didn't know I was pregnant at all, I was three months along. He came to my house the morning after I lost the baby, Sam was at work…"

_The sky was a dark grey that morning, the same color Norma felt inside. She had been admitted from the hospital three hours before and refused to get any sleep. It was horrific, being surrounded by a group of doctors and nurses who can only gasp at the amount of blood extracted from her body. She never would've expected it. _

_She had gone to bed a little earlier that night, making sure Norman was tucked away asleep safe and sound and that Sam had a beer and his sports highlights. She was awoken by a wet, uncomfortable feeling, her thighs felt sticky in her pajama pants. The alarm clock read 1:00 when she popped up in bed and noticed all the blood. It didn't take an expert to know what was happening. _

_Her hands clasped over her mouth as she cried, realizing she'd lost the baby. It took a lot of courage, to get up from that bed and walk to the living room. Sam was most likely drunk and wouldn't believe her if she didn't have evidence. As she crept into the room, her toes brushing the brown carpeting as a hand sat on her flat tummy, she observed him. _

_He was watching some game show, laughing whenever the host would make some cheesy comment, to her surprise he wasn't drunk yet. She could tell by the way he laughed, his voice carried no form of slur whatsoever. He must've snuck out once she fell asleep, probably to go see her. His affair and biggest "secret". It's not like Norma was sad about it, she had gotten over him at least two years into the hitting and shouting. _

_She cleared her throat, water overflowing her eyes, "Sam?" her voice choked out, soon hitching as the crying became more prevalent. He turned in the chair, flicking on the desk lamp on the side table, the second he saw her crying he huffed, "Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice endlessly irritated. This is how it was when he wasn't drunk, he was a verbally abusive asshole but there was less to no hitting or touching. _

"_Sam," she cried again, moving closer to stand in front of him, she knew he got the message once his eyes flew down to her blood soaked pajama pants. _

"_Oh shit," he exclaimed, his eyes bulging at the sight. The abdominal cramping was already starting for Norma, she couldn't stop grasping her side, it was like someone was stabbing her. Though it was bad, she couldn't express the feeling like she wanted to, that would just wake up Norman and make him worried. _

"_We have to go to the hospital," she said, sniffling and moving back towards the doorway to change and clean up. _

_The ride over was probably the worst part, all he could say was "This is why you should have aborted it" and "I'm sorry I ever knocked you up". His words only made her cry harder, evoking more irritation from him. Her focus was turned out the window the whole trip there, her hand still grazing an empty belly. Upon arrival, Norma slowly got out of the car and walked inside, going to the front desk where they immediately got her to the best OBGYN on call. _

_The experience itself was utter hell. There she was, tired and emotionally drain, laying on a table while a doctor put her under anesthesia and got rid of all pregnancy tissue left in her cervix. The procedure was quick and forgotten by Sam the minute it was time to take her home, the medication making her groggy and her body incredibly sore, the cramping getting firey. _

_When she went home, she went to bed. She was confined there for hours. The only human contact she'd had was Sam coming into their bedroom and telling her he'd be late that night and to not wait up. She couldn't say she expected anything less. It wasn't until Norman left for school, with strict warnings from his father not to wake Norma, that Steven went to her. _

_He thought it would be a normal morning, he'd make sure everyone but Norma was gone, go inside, they would have sex, and then breakfast. She gave him a housekey a good five months into their affair, it wasn't hard for him to enter her home. He called out for her and went to the bedroom, her weak voice guiding him there. _

_It wasn't hard for him to tell she went through some major strife. Her eyes held black circles underneath, her pupils were red from crying, and she was bundled up in something he'd never seen her in before, sweatpants. Once he sat next to her and pulled her to him, she told him everything. The pregnancy, the miscarriage, how the doctors referred to it as an "incomplete abortion", though Norma would've never done such a thing, and of course Sam's reaction. _

_But to her own dismay, that morning was one of the last times she saw Steven. The final meeting was Sam's funeral, he'd been a pole bearer and only gave her brief glimpses of eye contact. Everything had been terminated, the pregnancy and her relationship. _

Alex had listened to her words with a heavy heart, his arms not leaving her body. It sucked to know that Norma went through such pain and heartbreak. "I'm sorry, Norma," he said once more, kissing her temple.

"It's okay, it's over," she sighed, hugging him tighter, "I'm just baffled as to why he's back here and how he found me."

"I don't know, nowadays you can track anyone down, it's hard to stay incognito in a world where everyone is curious," he looked to the window with a tight lipped expression, "He's coming back first thing in the morning when you guys open the motel."

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath with a quick shake of head.

Immediately, he ran a thumb over her hand, "We'll figure it out, okay? I'll take the day off and be here with you the whole day. If things get awkward or too much we can get away from her for a while." He would have the SUV ready to roar the minute she needed it.

"Thank you so much, Alex," she said, leaning up to kiss his jaw, figuring anything else would be too personal due to their situation at the moment.

"Anytime, Norma."

**Review if you like. Thank you for reading - MJ123 :) **


	37. Refusal Not Excepted

**Hello everyone! Here's a short chapter to peak your interest. Hope all is well with my fabulous readers. Enjoy - MJ123 :) **

Only Alex got sleep that night. He stayed on the far right of the mattress as Norma occupied the other side, with lots of tossing and turning all pertaining to Steven and his return back into her life. Why now? That was the only question inhibiting her mind. They had cut ties permanently, he was out of her mind the second she and Norman hit the road for Oregon. They had slept together for months, she lost his baby, and her son killed his brother. That was putting it bluntly, existing feelings towards all previous events were simply a given.

Once the morning sun rose, Norma had risen too. Her eyes gravitated to Alex sleeping next to her, this pained her immensely. They hadn't slept apart since before their first night together. It hurt, not being able to feel his arms wrapped around her waist. She could only wish for such security, especially after cheating on him.

With a sigh she got up and looked down at her attire with a sigh, she forgot about the lingerie. It was too late to go back up to the house and change, Norman and Dylan were most likely sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of Lucky Charms, it wasn't in her best interest to fully wake both boys with an inappropriate peep show. Then an idea struck her and she grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand, quickly shooting a text to Emma. She asked if the young girl could sneak into her bedroom and grab her some kind of outfit from her closet. With a quick response saying of course and a tad of ease, Norma went into the bathroom and walked into the shower.

Just as the hot spurts of water hit her skin, she took a deep sigh. Steven. AKA shit from her past she had absolutely no intention of bringing back. There wasn't much she could do but try and make the re-introduction as simple as possible and somehow try to avoid all awkward tension that could come about, though obviously impossible. The sound of the shower curtain pulling open killed her train of thought, much to her surprise it was Alex. The fact that he'd want to do such a thing with her after the incident was surprising.

But there was no emotion on his face. No form of desire or want was to be shown. He slid past her to grab the shampoo and lathered his short hair. Though she didn't like the cool calis tension in the small area, something had to be said, she had to break the ice.

"Good morning," she murmured, a free hand reaching out to rest on his back shoulder blade. It felt foreign to touch him, his skin didn't hold the same warmth it always did when she felt him nor did those same goosebumps flare. She could've cried from the barren amour he could not afford her.

He turned to her, the hand dropping from his skin as their eyes locked. "How'd you sleep? I know last night was uh, rough," he said, his mind still clouded with all the things she admitted to him. It hurt to know about what she went through before they met. Norma didn't deserve it, any of it. Strangely enough it didn't make him want to hold onto her tightly, sure he loved her as much as he could, but anger still existed, a kiss couldn't make everything okay.

"I didn't."

Alex sighed lightly and let his focus hit the shower curtain. "I'm sorry," his voice was gruff and honest like it always had been. He felt compassion and empathy but he wouldn't dare to touch her, not yet, it was too soon. She obviously picked up on this, he could tell by the way she was looking at him, it was an empty stare.

"It's fine." With that, she opened up the curtain and left the bathroom, tossing the spare robe from his closet onto her still damp skin. She walked to the door and opened slightly to find a paper bag containing her clothes, she was quick to snatch it and head back inside before any guests could catch a glimpse of the disgruntled motel owner looking so unkempt.

Once back in the room, she placed the contents on the mattress and sighed at the combination. A blue skirt and green button up blouse? Something Norma would've never dared to put together. But who was she kidding, it was better than nothing, and she was grateful to Emma for grabbing them. She quickly changed before Alex could leave the bathroom, not wanting him to see her naked body.

She walked to the bathroom door and knocked once finished, "I'm gonna head back up to the house."

"Okay. I'll text you later," he answered back, shutting the water off and wrapping a towel around himself.

"I…" she began, her eyes darted all around the room as she searched her mind for the words though she knew what they were, she'd said them a hundred times before to him, "I love you."

"I love you too, Norma." Though tensions were high, her heart still skipped a beat when she heard his voice, she shook her head soon after and grabbed her phone before leaving the room.

Just as she started walking back to the house, a car pulled up on the gravel and, thinking it was guest, she turned back for the office. There was no need however, the man rolled down his window and looked her way immediately, he couldn't miss her even if he tried to. "Norma?".

There it was. She could pick his voice out of a crowd if she had too, it was distinct, strong, and incredibly reminiscent of the past. He got out of the car before she could walk anywhere else.

"Norma?" he asked, but she still wouldn't turn to face him, instead she pretended like she couldn't hear him.

He didn't get the message and soon walked behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him with a emotionless expression, "Steven, what are you doing here?".

Steven looked at her like she was some extraterrestrial creature, the unpleasant tone of voice was enough to make him do so, "I've been looking for you."

"Why?" she asked without hesitation, the sooner she shooed him away the better.

"Because I wanted to see you, I've wanted to see you ever since I found out you left town."

Norma turned back to fully look at him, he hadn't changed a bit. Same scruffy features and that crooked smile that had saved her life many times and over. "You've been waiting for three years to come find me?".

He looked at the ground and shook his head, "I wouldn't say that. More like it took me three years to find you."

"Why? Why did you want to come looking for me? I got out of Arizona for a reason."

"How about we talk all about it over breakfast? I could take you out to a diner I passed on the way here," he offered, his smile still in place, it was like nothing ever happened in his eyes.

"No, you are not going to take me out anywhere," she said, firm in her disposition. She already had Alex and she was happy though the cracks in their relationship were prevalent at the moment.

"C'mon, Norma. It's not going to be a date or-"

"You're damn right it's not going to be a date," she warned, looking at him with a hard pair of eyes.

"Let me finish," he said, looking around to make sure they were still alone, "Just give me an hour tops and I'll explain. I promise."

She sighed and looked down with a regretful frown, "Fine. An hour. Any more than that and I'm walking back here, do you understand?".

He smiled and started walking back to the car, a signal for her to come along.

"Same old Norma."

**Like it? Leave me a review and let me know! - MJ123 **


	38. Old Friends and New

**Here's the newest chapter, I hope you all like it! If you haven't read my new story, **_**Norma Louise**_**, you should. You can find it one AO3, Wattpad, and here of course! Review and follow that as well, I'm trying to make it as popular as this story. Anyway, happy reading! - MJ123 **

As she walked along the sides of the motel porch to Steven's car, Norma realized the risk she was taking. It was peculiar that he had come back to find her after four years, what was he after? She had every right to be suspicious of his motives. If he were to try anything with her, she would pop him in the jaw. He couldn't just come back and have her, especially because she loved Alex. She wanted Alex. Not someone who broke her heart years before.

Before bothering to open the passenger side door, she glanced over at him, "Just so you know, my boyfriend's a cop."

He scoffed and shook his head, "Why would you feel the need to tell me that, Norma?".

"I just thought it needed to be said as a safety precaution." She finally opened the door and looked at him, all seriousness displayed on her weary complexion.

His eyes squinted down in disbelief and arrogance as he focused on her, "Safety precaution?".

"Yeah," she answered swiftly, "How do I know you haven't turned into some crazed psycho killer?". She wished that came out more like a joke than an accusation.

"Psycho killer? Norma, what do you think of me? I'm no killer. For Christ's sake, I'm a father. Can't be much of a good parent if I go around chopping off heads, can I?" he replied, a similar smirk on his lips as one of his hands rested on the wheel.

She pulled back a bit before entering the vehicle, "A father?".

He motioned in the backseat to clear her questions. Once she looked back, her heart dropped. Steven wasn't lying to her. There was a baby strapped in a car seat in the back of his car. The child was sleeping, they had to be at least two months old.

She looked back to him, "You weren't lying."

"Of course not," he said, growing a tad annoyed at her mistrust in him, "Why would I lie about my kid?".

"I um...I don't know. I just never would've guessed-"

"What? That I moved on from you? If I recall correctly, Norma, you left. You are the one who packed up and took your family to this place. What was I supposed to do? Sit around and harp over you?" he asked, she could tell he was growing angrier.

She put a hand up and climbed in the car, shutting the door as quietly as possible. "Just stop yelling? Okay? You've got a baby sleeping,that's a rarity. So unless you want it to wake up and start wailing, I'd pipe down."

He sighed and pulled out of the parking lot, starting out on the main road.

"She has a pair of lungs on her. Wakes up at least three times a night, I haven't slept a full 9 hours in three months."

Her hands dropped to skirt, smoothing the material awkwardly, "Well, yeah. Babies don't like to sleep much. The doctors will tell you they should sleep at least 16 or 17 hours a day but that's complete bullshit." Her eyes rested outside the window, as her voice went soft, "She?".

"Ella Louise," he said proudly, looking in the rear view mirror to see her peaceful face still asleep.

"Louise, huh? Wherever did you come up with such a creative middle name?" she asked sarcastically, giving him a whimsical look out of the corner of her eye.

"You don't like it?".

"No, no. Ella Louise. Very pretty," she twisted to look back at the baby, a smile on her lips, "She's adorable."

He grinned as the car halted in front of the diner he promised. "Thank you. It's a shame that I have to wake her," he sighed. Soon enough, he he was out of the car and unstrapping the baby from her car seat, hoisting her in his arms.

Norma left the car too, making her way over to the diner entrance, holding the door open for them. She could hear the baby starting to coo, waking from deep sleep. He walked through and headed straight for a nearby waitress.

"Excuse me, ma'am, do you have any high chairs for babies?" he asked, bouncing her in his arms to soothe her before she could act up.

"Yep, just take a seat and I'll get one right over for you," she answered politely, heading towards the back of the restaurant.

He complied and took the nearest booth, Norma joining him soon after. She watched him balance the girl on his lap, his fingers delicately moving through her hair.

"How old is she?" Norma asked, her eyes stuck on the baby's face.

He leaned down to kiss her head, "Four months now."

Not long after, the waitress came back with the high chair. She walked away after promising to return soon to take their orders.

Steven looked to her, a bit worried. "How do these work? I don't want her to fall."

Norma smiled at his concern, she was the same way with Dylan and Norman. Afraid that any simple obstacle would hurt their existence. It was a scary yet exhilarating feeling to be a new parent.

"Um...I could put her in if you want. I've had to do it many times before with my own children." She felt weird offering, mostly because she barely knew her niece.

Despite her edgy feelings, he handed the newborn to Norma. "Oh wow, she's really beautiful. Looks a lot like you," she laughed, rocking the baby a bit before standing to strap her in the chair.

"Thank you," he said, observing her happy body bouncing in the chair, her little chubby hands were trying to clap together.

She nodded, her smile resting towards Ella as she watched her play with nothing. It was funny how babies could find joy out of non existence, everything was so new to them it was entertaining to observe what they uncovered in everyday life.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, who is her mother?" she asked, her focus turning back to Steven.

"It's funny you should ask that," he smirked, reaching out to run his fingers along her tiny hand, "Do you remember Katie Foreman?".

She thought back hard, she met so many people in Arizona. The name sounded familiar but she couldn't put a face to it. "No, I can't say I remember her."

"Katie was the younger women who worked at Trader Joe's. She also worked at the library but you wouldn't know her from there."

"Oh...oh, I think I know who you're talking about. Brown hair, worked in produce?" she asked, trying to piece her together internally.

"Yep, that's her. Anyway, I got the courage to ask her out and we started dating after our first date. I fell in love with her so fast, I mean she's intelligent, intuitive, she just knows me. We've been together for three years and most recently she had this little angel," he cooed, taking the baby's hand and shaking it.

"That's sweet. How are you two doing now?" she asked, remembering that babies could cause friction between two people. A relationship was already hard to manage, not to mention another life to aid and look after.

"We are great, actually. Never been this happy with her. But I wanna talk about you. What's been happening?" he asked, feeling totally clueless to his ex-lovers new life.

"Well, uh- not much actually. Norman and I moved here and we like it. We opened a motel a few days after moving, business has been fair. My relationship with Dylan has healed a bit, we talk a lot more," she smiled, through her past events in White Pine, patching up with her distant son was her greatest accomplishment.

"I'm happy to hear that, Norma. I remember you two hating each other," he said, reminiscing on the numerous times Norma would talk about Dylan, she would genuinely worry about him, where he ran off to, who he was with.

She smiled and nodded, "And of course I met Alex, he's the Sheriff of this town. We are pretty happy. He's just so different from everyone else. He loves me a lot. And he's never laid a finger on me, unless it was lovingly, y'know."

"That's good. It's good that you found someone who's worthy of you. You deserve it after all the shit with Sam," he murmured.

Her skin crawled at the mention of her former husband, she wouldn't ever dream of being with someone like him again. That was the darkest point in her life. "How did you find me, Steven?" she asked, starting to grow curious.

"My mother came to me a few weeks ago. She said she saw you and some guy at a diner in Phoenix, said it was pretty heated. She claimed you were screaming at her about Sam or something. She also mentioned living in Oregon. Once I looked up Norma Bates in Oregon, there were only a few results. And then there was the motel website," he laughed.

"I just never thought anyone would come looking for me," she replied, her eyes focused on the table below.

"Well, you're an important part of my life, Norma. I wanted to see if you were okay. I didn't want you to be in trouble or anything."

She smiled, "I appreciate that."

"It's no problem, okay? I just wanted you to know that I'm here. Plus, I feel like we haven't addressed what happened before you left," he sighed, looking at her grimly.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her heart starting to pound in her chest as she feared the worst.

"Norma..." he mumbled, leaning in closer, "The baby."

The moment she heard it, her skin sunk into a sickly pale color. There it was, the worst leaving his lips. She never thought he'd have the balls to bring it up, but he did. She didn't want to talk about it, she never wanted to think about it again but obviously he was going to make her speak.

This was going to be a long day.

**Please review if you liked this chapter! I need feedback to keep me going. **


	39. A New Kind of Shopping List

**Wow! I just wanted to thank you all for making me the third most popular story on this website. I really couldn't ask for better readers. All of you encourage me to continue on with my writing for this story. Love you all very much and appreciate all of you reaching out. Hope everyone is enjoying this storyline. Wanted to give a special shoutout to TrenchcoatsAreSexy, thank you for reading and reviewing every chance you get, it makes me so happy to see your opinions and interests in my story. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this next installment. Leave a review if you liked it, they really help me write the chapters quicker which means faster updates for all of you ;) Once again, I thank you all for reading! - MJ123 **

Before Steven could continue, Norma was already up and out of the diner. He looked surprised when she rose and left. No doubt he was going to follow her outside, but she didn't care. She whipped out her cell phone and dialed Alex's number, waiting through the rings until she heard his voice, already gruff and comforting like she preferred.

"Norma? Where did you go?", he asked, already seeming worried about her whereabouts and what she could have gotten herself into.

She sighed and looked around the parking lot, "I-I went out with Steven to talk with him and things just-"

"Where are you right now?".

Norma looked up at the sign gracing the building and went back to her phone, "I'm at this place called the Over-Easy Diner."

"I'll be right there, okay? Just hang tight for a few minutes."

"Thank you, I really appre-"

"It's no problem, Norma. I'll see you soon."

She put her phone back in the pocket of her skirt and waited for Alex's SUV to pull up on the gravel. Before he arrived, Steven's voice was at her back, this time angry with her behavior.

"Norma, what the hell is the matter with you," he asked forcefully, approaching her face to face, the baby crying gently in his arms.

She turned and shook her head, "You wanna do this right now? With the baby in your arms?".

He ignored her criticism and let the baby while, "I tried to bring something very important up with you and you walk away!?".

"Steven, calm down. You're scaring her!" she yelled, her eyes fierce compared to his own.

"You know what," he sighed, his voice still soaked in frustration, "I can't do this, I can't do it anymore. I came back for-". He handed Norma the baby and walked towards the car, "Never mind."

She looked down at Ella, starting to bounce her for comfort, "Where are you going! You can't just leave me with her."

"I'll be back later to get her," he said, getting in his car, and closing the front door. For a moment, Norma thought he was kidding around, but it was no joke. Before she could do anything at all, he sped off out of the parking lot, leaving his crying baby behind.

The next thing she knew, Alex pulled up right beside her, his eyes weary towards her. She didn't know how to conceal her struggle, she had a crying baby on her hip. Her hand reached up to cradle Ella's head as she whispered on her soft hairs, "Shhhh...calm down."

Alex rolled his passenger window, bewilderment all over his clean shaven face as he looked at the sight. "Norma, what are you doing? Who's baby is that?".

She sighed and continued to rock the baby on her side, "It's Steven's."

"What?" he asked, his face scrunched up, she had seen this look before, it was half anger and half sympathy.

"Steven left me with his daughter," she said, feeling relived as the baby calmed down, her crying turning into small worried coos. "And I have no idea what to do."

"Well, we have to do something with it. I mean...it can't just stay here," he mumbled, driving out onto the road.

"Her name is Ella," she informed, now rubbing her hand around on the baby's back to soothe her further. "I just, I don't know what to do. I don't have any bottles or diapers for her."

He waved a hand at her complain and looked out the window, "Norma, I'm sure he won't leave you with his child for that long. We'll go back to the motel and you can get her to sleep."

She looked at him, a tad frustrated with his distant attitude, ""You're not going to help me with this?" her voice was a mixture of shock and anger.

A scoff left his throat as he shook his head, "What do you expect me to do? Swaddle her and give her milk? I've never even took care of a child."

"I'm not asking you to take care of her. I'm asking for you're help, Alex. Please...please?" she begged, clutching the baby to her chest as a sign that she was there. The last thing she needed was for Ella to burst into tears again, she had nothing to soothe her with.

He huffed and nodded, "Fine, Norma. I'll help you. But if this guy doesn't come back or contact you, I'll make sure to find him myself."

She ignored his threat and kept her eyes sealed on the baby. "Can we stop at the store? I wanna pick up some baby stuff. She's gonna need it soon enough."

"Yeah. Do you want - Should I go in while you stay here with her?" he asked, pulling into the closest 24 hour convenience store.

"Would you even know what to buy?".

He nodded again and looked to her and the baby in her arms, "Pampers, right?".

She laughed slightly and bounced the baby girl on her lap, "You don't know much about babies, do you?".

"No, I guess not."

"She's gonna need diapers, a bottle, formula, and some kind of stuffed animal," she listed off, it was funny how she remembered all the telltale items that soothed a newborn. Those things never seemed to leave a mother once they had a baby.

"Stuffed animal?" he asked, looking at her with doubt in his eyes.

She nodded, "Yeah. When babies cry, stuffed animals or toys are typically the way to go. It comforts them and ensures security."

He smirked and focused on the side of her face, "You're just the baby expert aren't you?".

Norma shrugged and played with Ella's hair, "Not necessarily. I just remember what they need to y'know...survive."

"What uh - What kind of brands do I need to buy?" he inquired dumbfoundedly.

She sighed with a smile, "How about we both go in? I think it would be better if I picked out the stuff."

"Okay," he agreed, shutting the engine of his SUV off, and getting out of the car. She followed behind, making sure every movement she made was careful, it was a shame she didn't have a baby carrier. Then again this whole situation was simply unexpected.

Once the pair made it inside, Ella started to giggle, it was far better than a cry. Norma finally realized she was laughing at a stuffed rabbit near the checkout. She smiled sweetly at her niece and grabbed the rabbit, then looked at Alex.

"I have to get this for her. Look at her, she loves it," she she smiled, shaking the stuffed toy in front of her gleaming green eyes.

"Alright, just...put it in the cart and we'll look at milk and stuff," he said, awkwardly watching her tend to the baby. Alex wasn't good around children, his demeanor far too serious to conform.

She nodded and walked to the closest aisle that read, "Baby Products". Her eyes scanned the various boxes and kits of diapers, she grabbed the brand that promised no rash and long lasting absorbency, tossing them in the cart.

Alex's eyes bulged when he got a peek at the price scanned on the package, "$24.50 for a single case of diapers! That's insane!" he expressed, observing the options.

"Well yeah, babies are expensive. The first year of raising one is a good $10,000 dollars," she said, remembering how Norman left she and Sam practically broke for a good two years.

"Is that a joke?" he asked, looking at her in suspicion.

"I don't know, is it a joke when you have to eat Spaghetti O's with a measuring spoon because your last $50 went to diapers, bottles, and baby powder?" she asked, moving the cart along the rugged aisle to the bottles and picked the cheapest brand to purchase.

Once they got formula, powder, and a pacifier, they were on their way out of the store and back in Alex's SUV.

"Thanks for bringing me in there," she said, feeling better now that she had the proper items to care for Ella.

He put his hand up and shook his head, "It wasn't a problem. I know she needed it."

"Alright, when we get back, we're gonna have to stay in you're room."

Alex could have halted the breaks right when the words left her mouth, "We have to what?".

"Well yeah, you don't expect me to bring her up to the house, do you?" she scoffed.

"Of course I do, why can't you?" he asked, giving her a look of agony.

"What would Norman and Dylan say if I just brought a random baby home with me?" she asked, the worst mental images and ideas coming to mind. Dylan would ask what she got herself into and Norman...Norman would simply hit the roof.

He sighed loudly, figuring an argument wouldn't be good for any passengers at the moment. "Okay, fine. We can stay in my room."

"Thank you."

"But if that Steven guy doesn't show up within the next few hours, I'm going out to look for him, understood?" he asked intensely.

"Fine," she agreed, not wanting to press him any further than she already had.

Wherever Steven went off to, it couldn't have been good. The man had been tied down with a baby for four months, there was no doubt he was living it up while he could. But in Norma's mind, she assumed he would come back for Ella.

He had to come back.

**Leave me a review if you enjoyed this chapter! They replenish me! - MJ**


	40. Babysitting

**Next installment for all still reading and keeping up with this story. Love all my readers. Hope everyone likes this! Happy reading - MJ123 :) **

Once Norma, Alex, and the baby got to Room 11 and settled in, the crying started. Ella wailed like she saw something frightening and Norma immediately jumped into "mommy" mode. Something she hadn't tapped into since Norman was born. Her first instinct was to fix the baby girl a fresh bottle and try feeding her, to her surprise it actually worked.

It was cute, the way she gurgled and smiled with a full tummy. Alex was awkwardly sitting on the other side of the room watching how she tended to Ella, he had no idea what to do or how to help out. Norma couldn't read his signs, she walked over to him with a smile on her face.

"Alex," she began, her voice warm and soothing to comfort the baby, "You wanna try to hold her?".

He immediately shook his head and put a hand out, "No...no I'm okay."

She rolled her eyes and put Ella over her shoulder, a hand patting at her back. Suddenly, a big burp left her throat, making both adults laugh.

"She's so tiny," Norma said, her mouth still emitting tiny chuckles, "How in the world can she make such a big noise?".

He shrugged, the small smile still on his lips. "Beats me, I guess you fed her a bit too much."

"Yeah, probably. I'm gonna give her a bath, it's getting kinda late and I want to put her to sleep soon," Norma said, walking towards the bathroom.

"Wait a sec," Alex said, standing to halt her progress, "You sure you have all the stuff you need to do that?".

She nodded and started to undress the baby, leaving her in just a diaper. "Well all I need is water and soap."

He agreed and plopped on the bed, remote now firm in hand, "Okay. Uh-Let me know if you need anything. I'm just gonna catch up on some football highlights."

"Yeah, yeah," she said, turning the tub on with one hand.

She turned to the baby with a cheerful smile, "Okay Ella, are you ready for tub time?" her voice was goofy as she spoke to the girl.

The baby clapped her miniature hands together and shrilled as Norma looked at her.

"Okay baby girl, we're gonna be careful okay? The water's a little chilly," she grinned, gently lowering the baby into the three inches of tub water. She kept a towel set underneath her so it was fairly comfortable.

Once the water hit the baby's skin, she started squirming around, little eyes darting all over the room. Norma kept a hand firm on her stomach as the other got lathered up with suds.

"Look, Ella," she said, her soapy hand holding out, "Bubbles!". She blew into the soapy gathering, little bubbles floating all around the interior of the tub. Ella's little hand tried to reach up and pop a bubble, but when she couldn't reach it, she got frustrated.

Norma realized the little girls anger, she tickled her tummy and shook her head, "It's okay honey, there hard to reach."

Ella started to laugh once she started to tickle her skin. Norma chuckled with her, widening her eyes and sticking her tongue out, "Ah, you're such a little cutie," she laughed, rubbing the soap on her skin and rinsing with the tub water.

Norma quickly grabbed the small hand towel sitting by her leg and reached down to wrap the baby in it, drying her off with careful precision. When she was fully clean and dry, she brought her out of the bathroom and back into the room.

She placed Ella on the mattress, near Alex's legs and grabbed her original onesie. Norma felt bad that she had no clean clothing, but at least she got a bath and a fresh diaper.

She lifted her up and smiled, "Alright sweetie, it's bedtime."

Alex watched as Norma treated the baby as her very own. It was...sweet? Watching her be so maternal only made him love her more, his anger almost subsided for a minute.

Ella grew cranky the second Norma tried putting her down to sleep, her little arms flailed as her expression turned sour. It sounded like she was going to cry at any moment. To prevent this, she lifted the baby up and sat on the bed, rocking her slowly in her arms as she sang quietly to her.

"When I want you, in my arms and I want you, and all your charms whenever I want you all I have to do is dream," as Norma's soft voice filled the baby's ears, her eyes started to shut a bit.

She cleared her throat and kept going, intent on making the baby fall asleep, "Dream, dream, dream, dre-e-eam, I could make you mine, taste your lips of wine anytime night or day," with that last word, Ella drifted off to sleep. Her little mouth stayed ajar as Norma put her back down with a smile.

Alex looked at the baby then to Norma, "Wow. You really know your stuff," he mumbled, giving her a mental kudos.

"Eh," she started, her voice staying soft, "I've done it twice already. Guess you could say I've learned a thing or two."

"I guess so," he agreed, his eyes still on the sleeping baby, "Should we go to bed too?"

Norma nodded and took out her cellphone, "I'm just gonna text Dylan and tell him some kind of excuse for why I won't be coming back to the house tonight."

She came up with a mediocre excuse and texted it out:

Dylan, I won't be back tonight. I am at the hospital with Alex. He was having bad chest pains and needed to get checked out. They are keeping him overnight and I'm staying. Love you.

When she read it out to Alex, his brows furrowed, "You told him I was in the hospital?" he asked, a bit shocked that she would come up with such a big lie.

"Well, what else was I supposed to say?" she sighed, standing to walk near the bathroom, she dropped her phone on the bureau and looked to Alex. "Do you have anything I could burrow for the night?".

He stood from the bed and walked to the wooden chest, pulling a large nightshirt out and handing it to her, "You could wear this. Do you want a pair of pajama pants with it?".

She shook her head and moved into the bathroom. It was going to be awkward, sharing a bed with Alex under such tense circumstances. Without anymore hesitation, she sighed, folding her clothes in a neat stack and slipping into his shirt.

Her anxious fingers flipped off the bathroom light and walked back to the bed. Alex slid under the sheets too, a fresh pair of pajamas on. He reached over to flick the lamp off, making the room coolly dark.

Norma used the ferocity she always witheld and reached out to touch Alex's shoulder, "Alex...I know I've said it a lot but I'm sorry. I'm so-

"Norma," he cut her off, shaking her head, "It's fine."

"No, let me say this. It's not fine. I'm so sorry, okay? I didn't mean it. Any of it. It's just...I was drunk and so vulnerable and I missed you. I thought you wanted someone better and were getting sick of me. But it doesn't matter, I did something really shitty. And I'm sorry. I love you, I love you so much," she professed, feeling like her crummy apology couldn't mend the crack she put in their solid foundation.

He pulled her into a tight spoon against his chest and nodded, a hand reaching up to run through her hair.

"I love you too, Norma. I always have."

**Please review if you liked this chapter! **


	41. Fear and Present Danger

**Sorry to make you guys wait so long for an update! I have a special message for Nobodysside: **_**I have been reading "Her Eyes", it is a complete and utter beautiful piece of work. You have an amazing talent for writing and crafting together your story, please keep it going! You have me hooked! **_**If you guys haven't read it, give it a looksie, it's fantastic! Anyway, enjoy this chapter and let me know how you like it! - MJ123 :)**

It was 2:14 am when Ella started to cry. Norma's eyes fluttered open and her ears immediately filled with the tiny shrills, deja vu hit her once she remembered the amount of times she was woken by the sound of Norman and Dylan's tears. She stood up hesitantly, feeling bad because Alex was now awake next to her.

He sighed, his voice still incredibly groggy as his hands came up to rub his weary eyes, "Isn't there something you could give her to make it stop?".

She walked over to the baby and started to bounce her, "Believe it or not, but they don't give you a magic potion to shut them up once you bring them home from the hospital," she spat back, her body had only gotten two and a half hours of sleep and this wasn't even the nastiest she could get.

Her lips settled on Ella's head as she murmured to her, "Calm down, sweetheart. Everything is okay," a hand still resting on her small back.

The baby continued to cry, it was soft and needy, like she was trying to reach out for someone or something that wasn't there. It didn't take a genius to know Ella wanted her mother or father. But she was all there was and it was her mission to make the crying stop...at least for now.

So, going to the only method she could accurately remember, Norma laid the baby on her stomach and gently swayed her back and fourth. She lifted her up after a while and filled her milk bottle with water, letting her sip bit by bit. Luckily, the crying simmered down, and she went back to sleep without another peep.

Norma went back to the bed and got under the covers, noticing Alex still completely alert. "Man," he began, "I am so happy I never had a kid."

She rolled her eyes and held a sour gaze, "You can be such an asshole, I swear to God."

"What?," he asked, now turning to face her, "I'm an asshole because I don't want a screaming baby to wake me up in the middle of the night?".

"No, you're an asshole because you don't understand," Norma sighed, almost saddened by the way he perceived having children.

"Oh I'm sorry. Excuse the two hours of sleep, what am I not understanding?".

His sarcastic tone of voice really got under her skin. "You don't understand where babies come from."

He almost laughed at the stupidity of her speculation, his lips struggling to stay in the usual straight and stoic line, "Is that a joke? You seriously think I don't know?".

"Nope, I think you're clueless."

"Well, actually if you took an eighth grade science class, it's pretty simple to understand. You see, when a man puts his-"

"No," she stopped him before he could break down the obvious mechanics, "No. That's not what I mean."

He scrunched up his face in confusion, "Then what are you getting at? Cause beyond sperm meeting egg, I'm utterly lost."

"Babies come from love, Alex."

A scoff left his lips, "Well yeah, hence the sex part."

"No, they come from true love between two people. Not just psychical love. Like real love, spiritual and emotional."

"I can't, Norma," he sighed, flipping over and closing his eyes, "It's way too late at night for this kind of talk."

"What? Honesty? I'm just trying to soothe your arrogance."

"Well, can you take a break and maybe you could try again at a decent hour. Possibly once the sun is up?".

She didn't offer anything else, turning around as well and drifting off into a quiet snooze. She tried to keep the sleeping light though, it would suck to get comfortable and have Ella wake again. But thankfully, there was nothing. The baby slept contently just like Norma had.

X

The next morning had gone fairly normal, Alex went off to work, saying that if Steven hadn't shown before sundown, he would launch a search. Norma calmed him down and assured him that everything would work out. And for once, he listened and accepted her promise.

Now, it was just her and the baby. Norma fed her formula and attempted to entertain her with some scrabbled cartoon on the motel television set. It was...Josie and the Pussycats maybe? Or Vultorn. Either way, the baby was clapping her hands and cooing along with the fuzzy, animated dialogue.

Once she stood up with the baby, she walked to the curtain, seeing if Dylan was still at the house. All Norma wanted was to go upstairs, shower, and grab some clothes for a few more nights if needed without the questions that would come from her sons.

When she looked outside, there was a car. A single, royal blue Camry sitting outside of Room 11. There was a woman inside, young, pretty, she didn't seem to be in any trouble. Norma, thinking it was somewhat safe, went outside with Ella on her hip.

The woman's head immediately popped up as her brown eyes bulged open. She broke out of her car and Norma automatically knew who it was.

She walked up to Norma as her face showed concern, more so than she'd ever seen on anyone's face.

"Katie?," Norma asked, almost at a loss for words.

Steven had mentioned her as Ella's mother and said they were happy, she just didn't think Katie would find out about her boyfriend's little "stunt". How did she know anyway? No man in his right mind would ever admit to doing something so shady. Then again, he did leave her with his child.

"Yeah, it's me. I really - I'm not sure where to began," she said, her eyes focused on her baby, "I'm sorry he did this. I didn't see it coming either."

"I didn't even know he was coming to see me, I though he forgot about me," she admitted, her body shaking with anticipation to know what would happen.

Katie reached out for her baby and Norma handed her back willingly. She looked so relived to know Ella was okay.

"You didn't know Steven was coming? He said that you two had been planning to meet up for weeks...?".

She shook her head, seeming shocked at the claim, "No. Not at all, he just came up here."

"Oh."

"Why don't you come in and we can talk about it for a bit? I think it seems best it we clear this up," Norma offered, motioning inside the motel room. Her heart was racing like baby mouse.

Katie nodded and stepped inside with the baby.

Fear was the only emotion registering in Norma's body at the moment. That was the only thing that could come out of this, right? Fear.

**Leave a review and let me know if this chapter is any good! :) **


	42. An Offer You Can't Refuse

**I'm sorry for the wait, life has been very busy right now. But have no fear, school will be out soon for me and I'll have tons of new chapters ready to go. Hope you guys like this chapter. Review if enjoyed! Happy reading - MJ123 :) **

Once Ella was settled and well into her morning nap session, Norma and Katie sat in Room 11. It was awkward, having to sit with the teenage girl from Arizona who blossomed into someone so much older with an obvious burden. Norma tried to cut the tension by clearing her throat, she knew it was time to speak.

"So...has Steven contacted you at all?" she questioned, her eyes shifting in various areas of the room.

Katie sighed and shook head, "No. The last time we spoke was before he left for this place. He called me and said he was leaving for East Jesus nowhere Oregon to rekindle some kind of relationship with you."

She was confused then, her head popping up, "What?", it came out like a hushed whisper, this was a total shock. Steven wanted her back. That's why he bothered coming to White Pine Bay.

"Yeah, he said you two had been talking for a few months and decided it was only right to get back together," she explained. Her tone stayed blunt and weary, making Norma feel like a piece of shit. Steven had most likely driven this poor girl through hell and back.

"But...Katie, none of that is true. I promise you. We haven't spoken since Norman and I moved out of Phoenix. And he told me you two were happy and settled into family life."

The girl shook her head and let a sarcastic laugh out, "No. I assure you, it's nothing that glamorous. It's actually pretty fucked up."

She looked at Katie with concern in her eyes and motioned to her, "Please, keep going."

"Well, Steven came into my workplace and started hitting on me. I said no...I actually turned him down a lot. But um, one night I decided to go to this bar near my house to get out for a bit. He was there, watching me the entire time-"

"I'm sorry," Norma interrupted, "That wasn't planned at all?".

"Oh no, no, god no. He just showed up at the bar and basically stalked me. Anyway, I guess I had a few too many and I ended up sleeping with him. It was a huge mistake. I actually couldn't believe I was stupid enough to let it happen," she sighed, trying not to reflect back on it too much.

"Wait a sec," she said, looking to the side, "So Ella..."

Katie just nodded, "Yep. She was result. But don't get the wrong idea, please. I love her with all my heart. She's such a good baby, it's just...I hate Steven. He took complete advantage of me."

"So, what happened after you found out you were pregnant with Ella. I mean, what did Steven do?" she asked.

"Oh, him?," she started, her voice drenched in sarcasm, "He was thrilled. I mean it, he was dancing around and shouting for happiness while I sat on the couch crying."

"Jesus," Norma sighed, shaking her head, "Honey, I'm so sorry. I am, I know how he can be."

"So, you two did have something going on?".

She nodded with an exasperated sigh, "Yeah, we had a year long affair. And if we're being honest, I was in love with him to a certain degree. He helped me when Sam was awful and abusive. He actually-"

Norma stopped herself before she could say the one thing she'd really regret.

"What? Actually what?" Katie asked, intent on finding out more.

She sighed and waved her off, "No, I really, I shouldn't-"

"Go ahead, Norma. You can say what you need. Your secrets are 100% safe with me," the girl promised.

"I got pregnant. With his child. I um...I lost it about three months in," Norma admitted, slightly on the verge of tears. It was one of the most painful things that could have happened in her life. Through everything else, the abuse, the rapes, none of it transferred when her miscarriage came into play. The thought of something happening to any of her children truly killed her.

She looked at her in disbelief for a few moments that reached out to place a hand on her arm, "I'm sorry. That is awful. Did he ever know?".

Norma nodded, "Yeah he found out the day after I lost the baby. It really crushed him."

"I think that might play a major component as to why he want's you back, Norma," she concluded.

"I really don't want him at all. I'm with someone right now and we are content together, I couldn't imagine being with anyone else," just as the words left Norma's lips, she wished Alex could have been there to hear them.

"I think he may have figured that out, alluding to the way he left," she said, standing up and checking on the baby. "I'm just happy to see Ella's okay. To be honest with you, I was sick to my stomach with worry."

"Yeah, that's being a mother. Get used to that feeling," she laughed. "Anyway, um, what are you going to do now?".

"I really couldn't tell you. Ella and I are staying with Steven currently. It's just until I can get my GED and find something good job wise," she sighed, picking the baby up and rocking her gently.

Suddenly, an idea crafted in Norma's mind and she smiled, walking over to Katie and her niece, a hand coming up to rest on the baby's head.

"I'm willing to make you a very good offer if you're interested," she began, looking to the weary girl.

Katie looked at her, signalling her to go on.

"I have five rooms in my home right now. All empty, all furnished. There are two available rooms open right now. What if you stay in one of them and create a small nursery in the other. You can stay for a bit until you get your degree and then you won't have to worry about living with Steven," she offered, watching Katie's rapidly changing emotions.

She was overcome with shock and gratitude as she opened her mouth to speak, "That would be amazing but what about Ella? I can't just leave her there while I go to school."

Norma nodded with a small grin, "You most certainly could. I wouldn't mind watching her one bit, plus Norman manages the motel and I have loads of spare time during the day."

"Oh Norma," she began, tucking the baby into her shoulder, "I could never ask you to do such a thing."

"You didn't ask, I offered," Norma laughed.

"Do your boys even know about Steven or Ella?".

"No," she sighed, forgetting about telling them, "But I'll explain everything to them and they will be fine with it. I promise you, it can work out. So what do you say?".

Katie looked to Ella and smiled, "We accept."

**Please leave me some reviews. They simply keep me going. - MJ**


	43. Fluer De Lis

_**I just wanna dedicate this chapter to a very special women in my life, she's inspired me in various ways over the last 10 months. She will remain anonymous but the sentiment is still there. Enjoy - MJ123 3**_

Norma didn't hesitate to set Katie and Ella up in Room 10, with the instructions to come up to the house if anything was needed. Now came the hard part, telling Norman and Dylan her plans. She wasn't stupid, she knew her boys would struggle with the reality of two more people moving into the home. Norman especially, that thought jabbed at her.

With a heavy sigh and a lot of internal pushing, she walked out of the motel room and up the stairs to her home. She walked in to find Norman and Dylan on the living room sofa watching a re-run of Bewitched.

"Hey," she announced, making both their heads snap towards her.

Dylan was the first to rise and make a move over to her, "Mom, is everything okay? How's Alex doing?".

"Oh yeah, about that...I lied. Alex has been totally fine this entire time," she answered, Norma had already reached her limit in the lying department.

"Wha-"

"Dylan, just sit down. Both of you need to listen to me right now," with that, she moved out of the hallway to the living room and sat on the single chair across from Dylan and Norman. It was funny actually, the way their eyes bugged out towards her in the utmost worry.

"Mother, what is going on, you're acting crazy," Norman said, leaning in closer to observe her. Typically, he could tell exactly what was wrong with her but now it was pretty unreadable.

_Yeah, I'm the crazy one_. She shook the thought and sighed once more before delving into the truth, "Do you two remember Uncle Steven?".

Norman sat back, seemingly perplexed at the question, it really was like they had left everything and everyone behind in Arizona...even family.

Dylan scoffed and nodded, "Oh yeah I remember Steven. Salesmen with the dad bod. He was Sam's brother, right?".

Norma nodded and looked at Norman now anxious towards his change in mood, "Norman, do you remember your father's brother?".

"Of course, Mother. He came over every Thanksgiving and always tried to cut dad off from drinking," he answered with a shiver running down his spine, deep down he was so happy his father was dead.

"Well, I don't know how to say this..." Norma began, thinking of the proper way to admit their previous affair.

"I already know, Norma. Not quite sure about mister gullible over here," Dylan broke to motion to his hapless brother, "But I know."

"What?" Norma rushed, her stomach in knots, "What is it that you know?".

"You two were...y'know...banging," Dylan said, with a grossed out look on his face.

She sighed at the vulgarity and hung her head down in shame as Norman shot up and looked at his mother in disgust.

"That's not true. It can't be true," he said, shaking his mother lightly on the shoulder so she would look up to him, and she did but with light tears in her eyes, "Mother, he's joking, right?".

She shook her head and let a single tear slip down her cheek, "No, Norman. That's the truth. Me and you're uncle were seeing one another for a year," Norma then preceded to look at Dylan, "How'd you know?".

He scoffed, "How could I not know, Norma? With the way he looked at you during holiday dinners, it was pretty obvious. Plus whenever you would come to pick us up from school, you'd always be fifteen minutes late with your hair disheveled or your blouse messed up."

"I'm sorry," she said simply, shaking her head, "It was wrong and sleazy of me to do that stuff with him. But I was so unhappy with Sam...I just needed attention from another man."

"But what does all of that have to do with right now, Norma?" Dylan asked, knowing the worse was about to come.

"He came back. He found me and he came back. I agreed to go out to lunch with him two days ago and instead he left me with his baby daughter, Ella. I've been taking care of her for two days now with Alex's help. Anyway, the babies mother came back this morning and they are staying downstairs right now." She stopped and let that all sink in.

"Shit, Norma." Dylan offered, his hands coming up to rub at his face, "You haven't seen Steven since then?".

"Nope. Just Ella's mother," she said. "You guys remember Katie from Trader Joe's in Arizona? Brown hair, beautiful, always talked to me in produce?".

Dylan's eyes immediately widened, "She's a mom now?" he asked in plain shock.

"Yep, but not by her own choice. Steven took advantage of her," she sighed, her eyes drifting off to the side, watching Norman just stare at her in concrete bewilderment. She wasn't going to bother with his reaction, there were bigger fish to fry.

"And now, she needs somewhere to stay while she finishes up school. She also needs someone to watch the baby while she works and I volunteered," Norma admitted, her hands knitting at her skirt in nerves.

"You what, Norma? You-what makes you think you can raise a child?" Dylan asked, shooting up from his seat. "That's like taking in a lost puppy and the owner."

"Dylan, sit down. Just listen," she started, shooting him a nasty glare, "I'm not raising her, Katie will be here too. She just needs to do school right now and I feel bad for her, the way her life has been effected by that asshole."

"Great mother, that's just great," Norman started, obviously angry, "You take in a total stranger and just expect us to live with it? That's insane."

"Norman, don't dare test me. I'm at my wits end and trying to do something good for this girl. Now, unless you wanna end up like a lost puppy, I'd stop talking and watch your tone with me," she scolded, feeling the frustration flow through her veins.

"Wait, what about Steven? What are you gonna do about that?" Dylan pried.

"I don't know, we are just gonna have to wait for him to show up and claim his daughter. But it's not like he can have her now, not after this shit show," she scoffed, her mind focused on what would happen.

"Okay, what about Alex? Does he know you're taking in two more people?" he asked, knowing it would not blow over well.

"No. He has no idea right now, but he'll be fine with it, it's not like he cares," she said, knowing he would practically have an apoplectic once he found out about her recent endeavors.

"Yeah, how are you gonna tell him about these new living arrangements?" Norman asked, his tone bitter, the smart ass smirk stretching mildly on his face. Norma hated when her son wallowed in her personal pain, it was the most unattractive side to him.

"Both of you need to relax, trust me. Alex will find out later. I'll make sure he does. And when he knows, he'll be fine with it," she said, flat out lying to make herself feel better.

"Whatever, Norma," Dylan sighed, sinking back into the coach.

With that, she rose from the couch and walked to the kitchen with her cell phone in hand. If Alex was gonna find out, it would be now.

**Thanks for reading guys! Leave a review if you liked this and want more! - MJ123 :)**


	44. Here's A Story Of A Lovely Lady

_**Hey everyone! Finally out of school and ready to start a very lazy summer. That means more chapters! And I'll be starting a new fictional story on Wattpad very soon, it doesn't have anything to do with Bates Motel, it just came to me out of plain inspiration and I knew I had to publish it. So I'll leave a link to that in the next author's note at the beginning of Chapter 45 once it comes out and I've polished the final draft. Anyway, I hope everyone likes this new chapter! - MJ123 :) **_

Alex was just about to leave his office when his cell rang and Norma's caller ID appeared. He could admit that even though he harbored some hefty resentment towards her, it was relieving to see her name after a long day at work.

He flipped the phone open and cleared his throat, "Hey, how's your night been?".

The moment Alex heard her sigh, he feared the worst, "It's been alright. But I'm really stressed out."

"Steven come back yet?" He knew if that guy didn't make an appearance by the time he pulled into the motel parking lot, he would launch a full throttle search to find him.

"No." Her heart started to race, she knew Alex was going to be mad.

"That's it, Norma. This is ridiculous. I'm going to call some of my best investigators out and-"

"Alex, Alex...Honey, calm down. There have been some new developments in the situation. I'll tell you everything, okay? Just come to the motel, Room 11, and we'll talk," she explained, her voice staying serene in order to make him relax.

He huffed and started towards his SUV, "This better be one hell of a conversation."

"It will, don't you worry."

**X**

Within the 15 minutes she had to get everything prepared, Norma had managed to pull it off. She lit candles, pulled the sheets down, and changed herself into a nice nightie she had on hand. This was a new approach to get Alex to listen to her, she wanted to know that accepting two new people into her home came from a gesture of love and not impulse.

The minute she heard his car door shut, she positioned herself on his bed, poising the covers in effort to look as seductive as humanly possible.

Alex couldn't believe his eyes when he entered the room, Norma was poised, sexy, and absolutely beautiful. But that wasn't what this was supposed to be about. He had to change the flow of the room and fast before he let arousal take him over.

He paced to the bed, dropping his work stuff on the way over, he opened his mouth to speak but before any words came out Norma shushed him lightly, placing her hands on his chest.

"Don't speak...don't say anything," she whispered seductively, leaning in to kiss his neck, her body pressed to his in the best way possible. She could feel her treatment working, as something hard fished against her inner thigh, but got nervous when Alex's hands stayed directly at his sides.

"Norma-"

"Shhh..." she began, kissing lower on his neck while unbuttoning the top notches on his shirt.

Once her hands moved to his belt, she looked up at him, her lip caught in between her teeth and her eyes glimmering in the dim lit room. "You wanna have a baby?" she asked, her tone gentle and innocent.

His heart stopped the moment she asked, all arousal sank out of his body as he pulled away, a tiny glare in his eyes, "Are you fucking with me?" he asked, reaching down to re-do his belt.

She sighed and placed a hand to her head, "No, Alex. I didn't mean you getting me pregnant, I meant me taking one in..." her body fell back on the bed, watching his conflicting emotions.

"You agreed to take Steven's kid in?" he asked in bewilderment and disbelief.

"Ella is not a kid, Alex. She's a baby. And her mother came by today to tell me everything," she began, moving to perch on the side of the weak mattress.

"Her mother is here?" he questioned, his head perking up to meet her eyes, "Well that's good right, she can go back home I assume?".

"No, it's not that easy. Her mother is young, she's still trying to get her life on track. I knew her when I was living in Arizona. She claimed Steven stalked her and got her pregnant due to some stupid one night stand. He came to White Pine to try and get me back in some kind of relationship. Anyway, Katie, Ella's mother, wants to finish up school and get some kind of writing job. I offered her to stay here so I could watch the baby while she worked."

Alex moved and sat next to her, a hand coming up to rest on her leg, "Norma...I understand you were trying to do something good. I get that completely. You are a good person...that's why I fell for you. But this is incompletely thought out. I mean...how is her mother even supposed to finish school if she lives in Arizona?".

"Well, she'd just transfer to somewhere close by. There's a nice college up in Portland that would probably take her in no time," she defended, her hand moving to rest on Alex's.

"And you want this? You wanna raise a baby part time? What happens if Steven comes back?" he asked, Alex was always one to think something out completely before agreeing, it was one step to avoiding impulsive behaviors.

"Yes! Of course I want to raise her. She's my niece and she's a really good baby. I like being a mother anyhow. And if Steven tries to come back, it wouldn't matter. No way in hell that baby would be given to him. Katie would get full custody, I mean Steven did abandon her."

After a few moments, he nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "Okay. If this is what you wanna do then I'll support you because I love you. I'll help you if you need it."

"Oh Alex, I would never ask that of you, I mean...I know babies aren't you're thing anyway..." she said, rambling off, her eyes shifting down at the carpet.

"It's fine. She's kinda cute anyway," he smiled, pulling her closer to him.

She turned her head to kiss his cheek, "I love you."

"I love you too, Norma," he said, his hand coming behind her head to rest in her soft blonde locks.

"Now, I do have one very important question to ask you and I don't want you to feel pressured into it because I would never do anything to push you," she started, her hand wrapping his his.

"Ask away."

"Would you like to move in?" she asked, a small smile stretching across her already satisfied lips.

"Hold on..." he began, holding a hand up, a smirk on his mouth, "Dylan, Norman, Katie, Ella, you, and me? It would be like the goddamned Brady Bunch."

She chuckled at that, "Yeah, but I've always wanted a big family anyway. I always had the feeling I'd be more secure with a lot of people around. Especially you, you always make me feel protected."

"Well, I am a cop. The best in the town actually. That's probably why I got the role as sher-"

"Shut up, stop being an arrogant asshole," she joked, a smile 10 miles wide on her face, "Is that a yes?".

He nodded and flipped her over to lie on the bed, his weight resting on top of her, "You bet."

_**Leave me a review if you enjoyed this newest installment. As always thank you for reading, I appreciate you all very much! - MJ :) **_


	45. Dylan Came In And He Caught Me Redhanded

**Here's the new chapter with a little bit of smut as requested ;) I really hope you all like this! Please, please, please check out my story on Wattpad entitled Forbidden (By Turpitude_Princess AKA Me) Leave me some reviews if you want more. Love you all! - MJ123 :) **

It was nearing 11 pm once Alex rose from the motel bed, Norma still resting on the mattress. "It's getting pretty late. You want me to walk you up to the house?," he asked protectively. He wasn't naive, his sheriff trained mind knew that crime was all over White Pine anything could happen, even on a two minute walk to home.

She smiled and got up, straightening out the short skirt of the nightie, "Look at you, always watching out for me."

"Well yeah, I mean this is a dangerous place. And I guard what belongs to me," he murmured, tugging her in by the waist to peck her on the cheek.

Norma dropped her head on his chest and grinned, loving the gruff sound of his voice. "Do you have anything I could throw on over this?," she asked, looking down at her skimpy attire, "I wouldn't want anyone else to see me like this...then again, I'm assuming you're thinking the same thing."

"You're damn right," he smirked, letting go of her to move to the drawer. He pawed through a few unworn items, quickly grasping an old sweatshirt and tossing it to her.

She caught the article and looked down at it with a raised eyebrow, "I didn't think you were a sweatshirt kind of guy." Careful fingers draped the item over her body, only her bare legs peeking out.

"Eh, I used to wear it when I would jog. Needed to bulk up, made me sweat more," he said, closing the drawer, and walking back to her.

"So, you just let your girlfriend wear something you used to sweat in?", she asked, mockingly appalled as she paced to the door.

He scoffed, shutting off the light, and moving outside with her, "It's not like I don't wash my clothes."

"Say's the man who left large dirty heaps everywhere, leaving me to wash them," she poked, hooking an arm around his waist as they started walking towards the house.

"Maybe that was my way of flirting," he chuckled, his eyes focused on the windows of the home remembering the many nights he would watch Norma change and dress. It was perverted but his only way to see the woman he lusted after like crazy.

"Well," she began, looking up to him, "Pardon my pun but you're way of flirting really stinks."

He laughed and stayed silent as they walked up the long stairs to her home. Once they made it to the front door, she grabbed her key out of her bra and unlocked the front door.

"You keep your key in your bra?" he laughed, shutting the door once he entered.

"Well yeah, I couldn't keep it anywhere else. This thing doesn't have any pockets," she said, dropping the key in the bowl by the front.

He grinned and tightly wound his arms around her waist from behind, his lips dropping to the sweet smelling skin on her neck, "What do you say we go upstairs? I wouldn't want your hard work to go to waste."

She purred and pulled out of his grasp, taking his hand to quietly move up the stairs to her room. Before they could enter however, she checked on her boys. Both were dead asleep, the coast was completely clear.

He already walked to her bedroom, entering and plopping on the bed. Norma followed behind, closing and locking her door. She proceeded to strip out of the sweatshirt and toss it aside.

Alex reached out to clutch a piece of her nightie, "I really like this on you."

"I figured you would," she smiled, "I found it in my drawer and haven't worn it in years." With that, she climbed on the bed to straddle him, her lips meeting his feverishly. His hands reached down to play at her back, gently moving down to her backside.

Norma's fingers slid downwards to unbuckled and unzip his jeans, a devilish smile slipping over her lips as she kissed him. He took her by the hips and flipped her over so she rested on her back and he was on top. She took him by the head and reattached lips with him.

Alex reached down to tug her panties off and slid them down her legs to the floor. He pulled himself out, but Norma stopped him before he could enter her. "We have to be quite, okay?" she warned, a sexy grin still on her face.

"I don't think that'll be a problem...for me," he smiled, leaning in to kiss her. She slid her tongue in his mouth as her legs wound around his waist, her lower body thrusting against him. He couldn't take her teasing, finally he reached down and entered her.

Norma broke the kiss immediately, moaning at the contact, they hadn't had each other in a long time. She kissed the side of his head as they started to move in time with one another.

She let out another groan, her nails scratching down his back, "Alex..." she announced breathlessly, spreading her legs wider. She missed this. She'd never missed having sex with someone so much.

Another kiss pecked at his neck and Alex was close to cumming. He started to move a little faster as his mouth rested at her ear, "Baby...I missed you."

His voice in her ear only furthered the want, making her buck her hips against his feverishly. "Ah, oh god, Alex!" she screamed, biting her lower lip, hearing him say he missed her too made her blood pop affectionately. she screamed, biting her lower lip, hearing him say he missed her too made her blood pop affectionately.

The sound of her almost unwinding and the feeling of her getting wetter and wetter in anticipation of climaxing only turned him on more, making him thrust as hard as he could to help her reach her peak.

She slid her legs up to his lower back and wrapped them around, moving closer to him as he thrust, "Oh...fuck! Alex!" she shouted, one last cry of pleasure and a hitching of breath and she collapsed, her orgasm powerful as ever.

"Shit...Norma," he mumbled, finally shooting into her before falling on top of her body. She hugged him once he came, her hands tightly latching onto his skin.

"I missed you too, Alex," Norma murmured, kissing his cheek. "I'm sorry, I know I keep saying it...but I'm really sorry," she managed still out of breath.

"It's okay, baby," he said into her blonde hair, "I know you regret it." He kissed her on the forehead and ran his hands through her hair with a forgiving smile.

Alex let go and rolled over, moving to the other side of the bed and yawning, "I'm really tired."

She laughed and sat up, a hand still resting on his bare chest, "Since when are you tired after sex? Are you turning into an old man on me?".

"I'm always tired afterwards. It's all the effort I put in," he winked, reaching up to tangle his hands through her locks.

"Right," she said sarcastically, a laugh following closely behind. She stood from the bed and tossed her robe on, "I'm gonna go downstairs and get some water. You need anything?".

"You have anything sweet in the fridge?" he asked, his hands reclined behind his head.

"I can bring you up some ice cream if you'd like," she offered, moving closer to the bedroom door.

"Yeah," he smiled, "That sounds good."

"Okay, I'll be right back," she said, opening the door and quickly looking back in, "And don't you dare fall asleep on me."

"Yes ma'am".

The minute Norma moved down half the stairs, her body froze. All she heard was clanging coming from the kitchen. Her heart started to beat as she looked back upstairs, she figured if there was anyone downstairs that could potentially cause harm to her, Alex could kill them with his bare hands. She stepped down the stairs, her body shaking as she moved closer to the kitchen.

Once she stepped inside, guard completely up, her heart rate elevated. It was just Dylan constructing a sandwich. She dropped a hand to her beating heart and let out a small laugh, "God Dylan, you scared the shit out of me."

He looked her up and down, an almost disturbed look on his face, "I could say the same to you."

She followed suit and moved to the fridge grabbing a bottle of water and the ice cream for Alex, "What do you mean?".

"Look," he began, his eyes trained on the floor, "I'm just saying you should keep it down when you have guest staying over."

She immediately clasped a hand over her mouth and shook her head, "Oh my god, Dylan. I'm so sorry. You heard…?".

He nodded and took a bite out of his sandwich, "Every moan. I can't say I'm not scarred."

"Well then I guess I'm obligated to pay for therapy," she said, moving out of the kitchen.

"Hey," he called out, watching her turn around, "If you two are gonna go for round two can you help me find some ear plugs?".

She gave him a disapproving look and continued up the stairs to Alex.

**If you like, leave a review and don't forget to check out my story on Wattpad!**


	46. Nicknames and Sore Muscles

**Hey everyone! This is my newest chapter. Not so much filled with action but a brief character study. I wanted to see if I could get good dialogue flowing between Norma and Alex alone as a bit of a personal test. That's what writing is about, right? Pushing yourself to the next limit. So, I hope everyone likes this new chapter. Thank you to all who read and leave kind, thoughtful reviews, they make my day and put a smile on my face 10 miles wide. Enjoy - MJ123 :) **

The sun streamed in through the legendary lace curtains and shone on Norma's face that next morning. She sat up slightly, her body still pretty sore from what Alex and her had done the previous night. With a small naughty smile, she nudged Alex awake knowing he would be late for work if she hadn't have.

"Mph," he groaned, rolling off of his stomach and onto his back. He leaned his head back further into the feather soft pillow with high knowledge that he would miss the bed. He dreaded waking up in the mornings. He reached a hand out to rest on Norma's hip. "Are you making coffee?".

She smiled and leaned down to give him a morning kiss, "Of course. Who else would?" her snarky playful tone froze once she stood from the bed and tossed on her robe. "Gee, my back sure is sore".

He chuckled and moved to rest on his side, his head propped up by his hand, "Wow, I wonder why," his voice poked at her, Norma looked to him and shook her head. The clever bastard knew exactly why her body was sore.

She sighed and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge and taking his hand. "Y'know, we really should stop going at it so hot and heavy. Were gonna break something soon enough," she laughed, playing with his fingers.

"Eh, I think it'll be fine. That's what keeps a relationship healthy, right? Really good sex?" he asked, moving her hand closer to kiss the top of it.

"Yeah, I suppose. But...uh- I think there are some other reasons we should stop with the rough sex..." she began, not wanting to tell him about Dylan's complaint from the previous night. She knew she had to however, if not he would keep making her scream and that would only make her kids more unsettled.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, on guard immediately. He was starting to think he was hurting her when they were in bed and that made his mentally abuse himself, the thought of hurting her in any way physically was like a sharp stab in the stomach. "Am I hurting you, Norma?".

She shook her head with a small smile, "No, no, no, nooo...not at all. We are _absolutely _fine in the um...pleasure department. It's just...Dylan heard us last night."

He blanched the moment she told him, quickly sighing and dropping a palm to his head, "Well great...I haven't even fully moved in yet and I've mentally scared the poor kid for life."

"No, hun...you haven't done anything. Dylan is a grown man, he'll get over it. Besides, I told him I'd pay for therapy," she laughed in attempt to cool the mood now setting in the room.

"It's just a bit awkward," he said, shaking his head and looking at her.

"Just forget about it. Wipe it from your mind and move on. We'll stay quite from now on and tone down our...sexual deviancy, alright?".

"I suppose," he agreed hesitantly, looking to the window before his eyes met back up with her face, "So, anything going on today?".

She nodded and stood from the mattress. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna ask Katie if she wants to get some paint and supplies for Ella's room today. There's a great little shop in downtown White Pine that I think will do just the job."

"Sounds nice, you wanna borrow some cash so you can get everything you might need?" he offered, starting to rise from the bed himself.

"Nah, I think I'll have enough to get the bare essentials," she said, moving to the dresser to pick out an outfit for the day. "And what about you, Sheriff Romero? Any heavy crimes to deal with?

"Yeah, I have a shit ton of files to sort through today, I just...I fucking hate my job," he sighed, a hand moving to run through his short hair.

A silence filled the room before Norma looked to him, biting her lip, "Have you ever thought about retiring? Y'know stepping down and letting someone else do the dirty work?". She knew how touchy a subject it would be to mess with as Alex was a tough man who wouldn't trade the power he had for shit from numerous townspeople about what kind of job he'd done tending to White Pine Bay. He wanted security not a stupid legacy after all.

"I've thought about it before...a few times actually. Honestly, I think I would collapse without the job. I feel I'd be lost, what would I do afterwards?" he asked, stress flowing through his body with the thought. It was ironic actually, normal people retired to feel less stress and the idea of retiring only brought Alex stress. But that was who he was, someone who was always on edge even in the best of circumstances.

"Well, you could just work at the motel with me and Norman and Emma. We could possibly bring in more business that way," she smiled, poking at him.

"Oh yeah sure," he scoffed, "Come see the retired sheriff folding towels, I'm sure that will make people book reservations up the ass."

"Okay, maybe not," she smiled, thinking about something that would suite Alex. He would need to have a job that would keep him satisfied and busy but not too stressed out. "Well...you like fishing. What about that shop down by the dry cleaners? You could do things there like...I don't know sell fishing bait or put some hooks together."

He thought about the idea and grinned a bit, "Yeah, I don't know about that. I do love fishing but that doesn't mean I wanna come home smelling like dead fish everyday. Keep in mind you're the one sleeping next to me."

"Oh please, you think I'm that shallow? You could come home smelling like a dead body and I wouldn't care cause you'd be happy," she chuckled, starting to change into her outfit of choice.

"A bit morbid of a comparison, isn't it Mrs. Bates?" he joked, assembling his police uniform for the day.

"Haven't heard you call me that in a long long time," she smiled, buttoning the last notch on her shirt before moving over to make the bed.

"Yeah, well get used to it because I think I'm gonna bring it back."

"Fine," she said, fluffing his pillow, "But prepare to be met with Sheriff Bulldog in return."

"Whatever. Just know I can arrest you for calling me that," he winked, pulling on his pants and eyeing her as she tided up.

"I'd like to see you try."

"I believe I already have," he smiled, walking over to smooth out the covers on top of the sheet to save her the excess trouble.

"Alright asshole," she joked, moving to walk out of the room, "You coming downstairs for that coffee?".

"Right behind you, Mrs. Bates."

_**Thank you for reading! Please leave me a review and let me know what you thought about the dialogue! - MJ **_


	47. Mushy Apples and Modern Mommies

**Hey everyone! New chapter just for the hell of it. Hope you all enjoy. It's very important that I receive reviews on this one...love you all! - MJ123 :)**

"Dammit, Norman!"

Dylan's voice broke throughout the large home. Norma had just gone out shopping with that girl from Arizona, Katie and left Ella with he and Norman. Two men and a baby...it was like that bad movie he'd seen late night on HBO.

Norman hadn't been helping at all, and the one time he tried was right now. All he had to do was get the glass jar of baby food out of the bag Katie left them and he'd already smashed it to the floor accidentally. There was nothing left now.

There Dylan stood, holding the little girl in his arms and trying to get her to fall asleep. Luckily she wasn't crying, she was fairly playful for a hungry baby.

Norman stared at him in hatred. "It's not my fault! You'd think the jars would be plastic! Babies can knock them off hair chairs anyway," he scoffed, preparing to walk away.

"Don't you leave me with her, man!" Dylan warned, moving over to set Ella in her high chair.

"Well," he snipped, placing his hands on his hips hastily, "What would you like me to do, brother dear?".

Dylan immediately rolled his eyes, fighting the urge to hit him with something heavy, "I'd like you to stop being a dick and help me find something to feed her."

"I don't know what they're supposed to eat!" he defended, walking to the fridge and pulling out an apple. "What if we blend this up?".

"Blend it u- Norman, what the hell are we supposed to do with a blended up apple?" Dylan asked, already frustrated with his new role as babysitter.

"Applesauce, Dylan. That's how it's made. They take the apples and mush them up," he explained, his most condescending tone fully on display making his older brother feel like a true moron.

"Whatever. Just toss the fruit in and we'll see if she'll take it," he sighed, walking to Ella and observing her still peaceful face. He already knew it was going to be the longest play date ever.

**X**

"What about ducks?" Katie asked, holding up one of the stencils to Norma.

They were in a nicely dressed department store, standing in the baby section looking at the perfect colors and stencils for Ella's room.

She twisted her lips in thought and shook her head after a few moments, "No. I feel like babies want something...softer? Like more comforting."

The young women nodded and put the duck stenciling down, her eyes widening when she looked up and saw something even better on the top shelf, "This. Bears are perfect for babies, right?" she asked with a smile, fingering the bear outline.

Norma nodded, "Absolutely! Paired with the right color we may have something brilliant brewing."

"Okay. What are you thinking about for paint?" Katie asked, tossing the bear stencil in the cart and moving down the aisle to the soft paint display.

"Hmmm...well she is a girl so what about the typical light pink?" she asked, pointing to a rosy pink shown on a paint chip in front of them.

"Really? I was thinking something a big more gender neutral..." she said, her eyes focusing on the blues and greens.

"Gender neutral?" Norma asked, she'd never heard of such a thing.

"Like not too boyish or girlish. No gender label. If I paint her room pink, she'll grow up thinking I want her to be girly," she informed, picking up a different color.

"Well...isn't she a girl?" Norma questioned, her eyebrow raised in bewilderment.

"That's what it says on her birth certificate but that's not her personal choice. She's not old enough to decide what she wants. What if she's 13 and tells me she's transgender? I would support her at all costs and I want her to know that. I wouldn't stick her with something too girly so young because I want her to know her options are always open," Katie said, confident that her parenting style would be great later in life.

Norma shrugged and walked further down, "You modern mommies are so insightful. In my day it was pink and blue,

you didn't have a lot of choices," she laughed.

"Well, the world is a big place. It's filled with new options, innovations, and ideas. Keep your eyes open. You never know what you may find," she said, picking up a yellow from the bottom shelf. "How about this?".

Norma smiled and wrapped an arm around the young women's shoulders, "I think she'll love it."

With that, they checked out and drove back to the Bates home. Katie brought the bags to her motel room as Norma went to the boys to see how they were handling the baby.

The moment she entered the home, she was met with disaster. The kitchen was a wreck. There was apple sauce all over the wall and Dylan was sitting at the table with a beer.

Ella was sitting in her high chair, shaking some rattling toy in front of her. Norma immediately picked the baby up and placed her on her hip.

"Dylan, what in the world-"

"Don't, Norma," he stopped her, taking a swig of his beer. "Just don't start. I'm not in the mood for bullshit."

She could tell he was burnt out just by the sound out his voice. "Where's Norman?".

"I have no idea, probably out with Emma or something. He left the second the lid flew off your blender and shit literally hit the fan," he sighed, standing up and going Norma a deadpanned look.

"So," she sighed, rocking the baby, "I take it your not cut out from babysitting?".

"Not a bit. I'm gonna head out and see if there's any work to do at the farm. I'm better at handling drugs than I am babies," he smiled, heading to the door.

"I'll see you when you get back," she called after him, mentally preparing herself for the mess she'd have to clean up.

"See ya, Norma."

**X**

The second Dylan was about to enter his truck, Katie left her room, walking the gravel to the house. She couldn't help but run up to him with a smile, she hadn't seen him since Norma lived in Arizona.

"You remember me?" she asked, her grin intensifying as she stared at him.

Dylan was shocked. She was gorgeous, right down to the brown hair and perfectly arched eyebrows. "Uh...no I'm afraid not."

"Katie, I'm Ella's mom. I used to live in Arizona. I knew your mom pretty well," she explained.

He shook his head and looked up to the sky, looking into her eyes only made him nervous, "Eh, I pretty much blocked everything from those days out but uh...it's nice to see you again."

"You as well. I look forward to living with you guys," she said, her cheeks growing pinker from smiling wide.

"Me too," he said, walking back to the truck, "It was nice talking to you."

She nodded and headed away leaving Dylan to grin in his truck. He was going to live right next door to a total babe. Today couldn't possibly get any better.

**Leave a review if you liked this chapter! - MJ**


	48. Midnight Feeding

**Hey everyone! I just had to post a new installment because I really appreciate my readers so much and wanted to give you a little something in return for all your kind support. For the reader that asked if there will be a sequel to this story the answer is no, I am just going to keep it altogether as it is easier that was and I already have had a lot of luck with this one. For the reader that said I am a gifted writer I would like to thank you, reading your comment brought a tear to my eye. I've worked to get this story to where it is right now and appreciate all your support, love, and good vibes along the way. I am a truly blessed fanfiction writer to have so many loyal followers. Love you all! Enjoy - MJ123 :) **

Later that night, Norma decided to call Alex and see how things were going at work, she'd truly hoped that their morning conversation had sunk in. She had Ella strapped in her high chair, a jar of unopened creamed spinach at her chubby little fingers. With one last smile at the baby, Norma dialed his cell and waited through the numerous dial tones.

"Hey," he answered, his tone rough and tired, "How's everything at house?".

She smiled at his question, it was one of best things about Alex the fact that he always wanted to know how she was doing and if she was okay, it sectioned him apart from the men she'd had, "There okay. Everything is okay. It's just me and Ella right now. The boys are out."

She could almost hear the question arising in his throat, "Where's Ella's mother tonight then?".

"Oh, Katie? She's at some college orientation party in Portland, said it's mandatory for anyone who was accepted," she explained, grabbing a tea spoon out of the kitchen drawer to feed Ella.

"A party? Doesn't sound too mandatory to me? Are you sure this is a good idea, Norma? Taking in a girl you barely know?" he asked, it was always in his best interest to look out for her best interest, that's what made them so dynamic.

She sighed, frustrated at his doubt with the new guest, "Of course, Alex! She'll be fine. But she's still young and she deserves to go and have a good time like the rest of the girl's that are her age."

Norma had to defend the poor girl, she remembered what it was like. When she was Katie's age, a mere 23, she was already tied down with Dylan and two jobs. Even when she was able to make friends, the never kept. Anyone she had ever come into contact with at that time only wanted to go out and party, drinking and getting into some sort of fleeting young blood themed trouble. But with a five year old latched to her hip, she knew she couldn't go out and enjoy the party girl lifestyle and for that she felt oppressed which made it harder and harder not to resent Dylan.

She could not bare to watch Katie go through the same thing. Never being able to live it up in a spare moment because of being a mother, she would only resent Ella and she was such a sweet baby, therefore a party was certainly not out of the question. She knew Alex wouldn't understand, he wasn't a parent, he had no idea what it was like. Then again, White Pine Bay was his baby, the town required tending to and looking after much like a newborn.

After a few moments, Norma heard Alex sigh, "Okay, I'm gonna trust your judgement on this one. But if you drag yourself into a shitty situation I can't promise that I'll feel bad because I warned you."

She scoffed and decided to veer off from the conversation before some kind of fight broke out and they turned bitter towards one another again, "It's going to be fine," she reiterated, looking to the fridge, "Now, why don't you come to the house and I'll heat you up some dinner. Just you, me, and the baby."

"Yeah, okay. I'll be there in five," he said before hanging up and packing all his belongings, leaving his office thankfully. It had been a long day, once he climbed into his SUV he could feel a bit of the stress floating away, any time away from that dreaded station was good on his part.

As he drove through his weary town, he thought about Norma and Ella. He never signed on for a baby, he wasn't good with them. He never babysat or had any nieces or nephews to practice on. It was hard for him, having to be so compassionate and gentle with another human being. Sure, babies were cute but they were a workload and a half, feeding, changing diapers, making sure they were entertained, he had no idea how Norma could've gone through it twice. Especially given her level of stress.

Alex was overall nervous about living with a baby, he wouldn't be able to get up in the middle of the night with her if she cried or watch it when no one else was home. He was almost afraid. That was something he'd never thought to mentally admit. The "big, scary, intimidation" Sheriff being afraid of a helpless newborn baby. Internally, he hoped he wasn't alone, he prayed their were other's out there who had conflict with children.

He sighed and braced himself once he pulled up to the Bates home, he knew what was waiting for him inside and this time it wasn't Norma in some sexy lingerie, it was her in full on mother mode. Tonight, he would've really preferred the lingerie.

Once inside and walking towards the kitchen, he threw on a small smile at the sight of Norma struggling to feed Ella some green stuff in a jar. "Hey," he announced, moving over to drop a hand on her back and kiss her head.

"Hey," she said, already frustrated with the task at hand, "C'mon, Ella...just one little bite, please?" her hand moved closer to the baby's mouth again, trying to gently press the food inside, but she kept moving her little face and letting a small whine leave her throat, insisting the food wasn't allowed anywhere near her.

Norma couldn't believe it, four months old and picky as hell. She took a deep breath and threw on a funny face, "Come on sweetheart, you have to eat," she cooed, putting the food close to her face again. The baby finally opened a bit, grudgingly accepting.

Alex laughed a bit and motioned to the fussy baby, "Finally, right? Looked like a struggle."

"Well, as you can see, I'm clearly a master, she finally agre-"

Norma's words were halted by a slew of icky green liquid on her face and shirt. Ella had spit up her food and it had landed all over Norma. Her face was pretty priceless, shocked and angry at the same time. Alex couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"I-I'm so...I'm so sorry, baby...but," he laughed, looking at her and pointing at the mess the little girl had made.

She stood from the chair and dropped the spoon of the mini highchair table, "Fine. You think this is so funny? Why don't you try it!" she said, motioning to the baby sitting with a small smile on her lips after the fun she'd created.

"Oh, no way in hell, she'll do the same thing to me!" he defended, the last thing he wanted was to smell like regurgitated spinach.

"Well," she began, moving over to the sink to clean up, "You don't know that. Just try it! I need more that just me to help with the baby."

He sighed and sat in her chair, taking the wet spoon off of Ella's tray and filling it with the messy green food, "Um...okay," he started, looking to Norma who had her back turned, scrubbing at her shirt, "Uh-here...girl," his voice almost cracked under pressure, putting the food closer to her.

"C'mon kid, it's not that bad. Trust me, it doesn't taste bad at all," he said, trying to endorse the food to the baby who could barely understand anything at all. Yet a miracle happened, she opened her mouth, little eyelashes batting at him.

He took a deep breath and placed the food in her mouth, pulling the spoon out when she accepted. With a smile, he repeated the process, shocked that it was actually working. It was pretty enjoyable, watching her obey without any form of struggle. Alex was so caught up in the chore he didn't realize Norma's eyes on him.

Her heart softened automatically, watching him feed the baby, "Aw Alex look, she likes you," she giggled.

"Yeah, I mean I guess..." he shook it off, continuing to spoon the food into her small mouth.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

**Leave a review and let me know what you all thought! Thank you for reading - MJ**


	49. Doing A Little Digging

**Emily Arthur, this one is for you. I want you all to look back at Chapter 27: Pulled Out Of Darkness for further reference to this chapter's events. Leave a review and let me know if this is any good. Thank you and enjoy - MJ123 :) **

It was an hour later when Norma was finally able to put Ella down for the night. She was sleeping in the guest room, luckily for Norma she was able to find Norman's old baby crib in the attic, why she had it shipped to White Pine Bay she would never know. Nostalgia maybe? The desire to have more kids? Whatever. It didn't matter because it sure was coming in handy now.

Her body felt tired, it was a reminder of when Dylan and Norman were babies and while a sweet memory, the feeling sucked. She could pass out any second, even walking to her room was like a chore. A smile reached her lips once she saw Alex however, stretched out on the bed with his hands behind his head, he looked ready to crash as well.

"Hey honey," she yawned, peeling her outfit away and searching for some kind of nightgown.

"Hi," he answered, his voice as gruff as ever.

Norma quickly tugged on the first fitting piece of clothing she could find, walked to the bed, and climbed in. "So, you were really sweet tonight," she giggled, her lip caught between her teeth.

He gave a small nod and a miniature but appreciate smile. "Eh it was nothing."

"No, no, no! It was so cute to see you and the baby together...it just amazes me that you never got around to having any of your own," she added, pausing once the words left her mouth.

All of a sudden it came back to her, Callie? Callie, that was her name. Alex's aunt had told her the whole story...his perished fiance. She was already pregnant with their child when she was killed. _Oh shit_, Norma thought.

"Yeah...kid's were never really my thing," he replied, his voice staying completely monotone.

Norma was a little mad at that point, why couldn't he just tell her? She would've understood and supported him. It looked like the only way she would find out is if she pried. And she didn't want to. But it was something incredibly important and if it had to be dug into it would be.

"Alex," she sighed, gently reaching over to take his hand in hers, those blue eyes turning into something completely sympathetic, "I know..."

He looked at her in confusion, a hint of fear overshadowing a few seconds after, "You know...? You know about what?" his voice didn't sound angry, but rushed like he was choking on his own words.

"Honey, your aunt told me-"

"She what? My aunt told you what exactly?" he cut her off, she knew his blood was starting to boil. She never thought he would get this upset over something without even knowing what it was.

She took another deep breath and clenched his hand a bit snugger, "About Callie, Alex. I know who she was, I know what happened to her, and I know how you felt about it," she explained, her heart beating like a mouse, she really didn't want him to get mad.

But it was too late. He stood out of the bed, shaking his head as he tugged his shoes back on. "No, you don't know what your talking about okay, Norma? Just let it go."

"I do know what I'm talking about, Alex. You lost your fiance. I know, it's out in the open, okay? I just don't know why you kept that away from me for so long," she said, staying down, afraid to make any other movement.

"Norma!," he began, his face getting red, she didn't know if it was because he was sad or angry, "Just knock it off!".

"No, I will not. I want you to sit down right now and tell me what's going on with you. Why are you getting so mad at me? Is it because your missing her?" she asked, her voice staying soft and empathetic the entire way, she would never yell back at him, not when dealing with such a matter.

"I told you to leave it alone so leave it the fuck alone!" he yelled, walking closer to her bedroom door to leave. He couldn't handle it. Just the word Callie sent him into a tailspin.

"Hey," she started, jumping out of the bed and clambering to the door to grab a hold of his arm, "Alex stop. Please. Just tell me. I'll listen to you, I'm right here for you sweetheart."

"No Norma! You stop! Stop asking cause I'll never tell you," he grumbled, giving her one of the meanest glares he could've managed.

"Fine," she said with a sigh, "But just know I've told you everything. Even about my past which you know hurt me. I told you about Caleb, I told you about the way I grew up. I think that I deserve a little sliver of truth from you right now."

He sighed and dropped his head against a side of the door frame, "You wanna know that much, huh?" he asked, his voice still refusing to breach from the low grumble.

"Yeah, Alex, I do. I want you to open up to me and tell me what your feeling," she admitted, reaching out to grab his hand again. She wanted to signal him, to let him know she was there, that she would always be there.

He clutched her hand back, his face still appearing angry however. He shrugged, letting Norma know he was breaking a bit. She tugged on his hand, pulling him gently back to her bed to sit down. He did, he stayed planted on the side of the mattress with a sedated look on his face, almost like he was already drained of emotion. It was clear that this was a demon for Alex.

"Are you sure you'll tell me everything?" she asked, a hand moving to rest on his upper back.

He nodded and sighed heavily, "If that's what you want."

"It is."

"Well then...brace yourself."

**Thank you for reading! Hope you all liked it. Please leave a review and let me with you think. - MJ **


	50. The Truth

**I know everyone has been wanting to read this chapter, can't believe it's already the 50th! I'm excited it's finally done and ready to be devoured by you guys. I just wanna reiterate and tell you all how grateful I am for your support and amazing compliments regarding my story. Without all of you, I wouldn't have discovered that writing and English are my passion. With the confidence you all have helped me build, I've began writing original things, all mostly poems but it's a start, right? Anyway, I love you all. Please enjoy this chapter and leave me a review if you'd like! - MJ123 :) **

Alex finally succumbed to telling Norma the entire truth about his past, though it seemed she already knew most of it. He took a few moments to get a handle on his emotions before laying down on her bed, her next to him still squeezing his hand.

"We were in love," he started, eyes darting everywhere but her face if he looked into her saddened blues a piece of him would simply crumble apart, "We were so fucking in love."

Her mouth was gaped a bit, not only was Alex seemingly growing more emotional, he was willing. That's what she was after anyhow, for him to show her his true colors in all forms without any kind of internal judgement getting in the way.

"I met her when I was training to be on the force. It was pretty fast, actually. Believe me when I say this was the type of shit you'd find in one of those sappy romance movies," he paused, taking another deep breath, "I would go to get coffee at this shop across the street from the academy and she would be there every day. The way we interacted for the first time wasn't exactly..." He stopped, searching for the right word and internally preparing himself for the rest of the story.

"Picture-esque?" Norma butted in, sensing him getting uncomfortable with the growing awkward silence.

"Yeah," he said, thankful for her voice, "I actually spilled coffee on her and uh- we kinda just clicked after that."

She grew nervous when he stopped speaking for a bit after that, it was hard for Norma to see him hurt so much. "What was she like?" she questioned, hoping to lighten the subject a bit.

"Callie..." he said, starting to anxiously play with her tiny fingers, "She was amazing. Like...a complete free spirit and rebellious all at once. She was really worldly, really into activism. Even dressed like a hippie," he claimed, a small chuckled leaving his throat.

Norma just nodded, not wanting to push him to talk about her death.

"But anyway, we moved in together after about six months of dating. Bought this little house in White Pine and she got pregnant," he said, a hand reaching up to brush through his short hairs. Norma knew he was growing sadder and sadder, she moved closer to lean into him for comfort. She felt a bit relieved when his arm reached over to wrap around her.

"Were you happy?" she asked, her voice growing into a soft whisper, not wanting to overwhelm him with anything more.

"I was scared out of my mind. I wasn't sure what would happen or how parenting would work out for me. But yeah you could say I was fairly smitten with the idea of being a father," he added, Norma looked over to see his eyes beginning to get glossy.

She moved her mouth near his ear, "We don't have to talk about it anymore if you don't wanna," her voice soothed.

He shook his head never being one to feel weak, "I want to tell you," he breathed, his fingers playing at the fabric of her nightgown, "One night...I was out on duty. And this was when I was just starting out, I mean I was only a deputy at the time. I remember it like it was yesterday...I was called out to deal with a domestic violence issue and had to leave her home alone. She was around 7 months pregnant. And I guess she um..."

Alex paused for a few good minutes, he'd never spoken to anyone about this before. He'd never even internalized it himself, he looked at it like a giant bruise that would take a bit of healing but never a check up.

"She needed something. In the middle of the night that is when I was out. It was raining so hard that night, you'd never seen rain like this in your life. I guess she hopped in the car, her little mini cooper. I kept trying to tell her that it wasn't safe but she thought it was better for the environment so of course she insisted," he said, his head shaking in a bit of hysteria.

"She was driving along the little side roads to get to this convenience store near downtown. Since it was so damn rainy out, she couldn't see anything. It was like buckets of water coating a windshield...I mean...there was just no way. And I guess there was a trucker on the same road, he'd had way too much to drink that night. He just drifted off and hit her car. And um..."

He stopped once more before taking in one more sharp intake of breath, "I was the one. I was the one to find her like that...and I completely lost my fucking mind. I wouldn't go out of the house, I wouldn't sleep, I was totally addicted to alcohol and off the corner antidepressants. It was a good six or seven months before I was actually able to leave the house and go to work. And when I did, that feeling wouldn't shake. I always felt sick and anxious about losing my girlfriend and our child..."

"I understand, Alex. I get that feeling, it's something that's hard to overcome. Losing someone like that...I couldn't imagine the feeling of losing not just one but two people," she sympathized, leaning over to kiss his cheek softly.

"Sure you can, I mean...you lost a baby. That must've hurt like crazy too," he said, silently cherishing the slight kiss she gave him, it was like giving him a bandage.

"It did. It fucking broke my heart. I still blame myself but I know the sun is gonna rise in the morning and we as people have to rise with it," she murmured, hoping to ease the sadness of the room.

He looked to her and kissed her softly, "I love you. I really need you to know that. I never said it enough to Callie and I saw how that ended up. I care about you and I know for a fact that you helped me overcome that depression."

She was utterly touched, a small smile taking over her lips and she placed a hand on his cheek, "How?".

"I don't know. Dealing with your crazy ass the first year got my mind off my own shit I guess," he laughed, looking into her kind eyes, that was the one trait he fell for the hardest at first.

"Well, I'm happy my crazy ass could make you feel better," she said, her heart fluttering with clarification that he loved her, really loved her.

"Thank you."

**Your view has been appreciated courtesy of me. Comment if any of you would like to read my poetry and I will happily post it somewhere that is easily accessible, if not I understand. Thanks - MJ **


	51. Happy Birthday

**HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BLACK AND BLUE!** **I am so pleased with the amount of readers I have gained over the past year. You all have helped let me know what my true passion is. I wanna thank you all my kind readers for their enlightening words over the past year. I can't believe I wrote the first chapter one year ago today! Thank you all for making it such a success. To celebrate I have come up with a small fan name for all my readers...Normangels. You have all served a role as angels because of helping me discover where my true passion lies. I wanna thank you all again for that. Here is the next chapter, dive in and enjoy! Thank you for a beautiful year! **

The next morning, Alex awoke to the sound of a bedroom drawer shutting. He rose slightly, a hand reaching up to wipe the slumber from his eyes, to see Norma standing at the mirror now dressed for the day.

"That new?" he asked, a yawn leaving his lips shortly after. She dawned 50s styled high waisted white capris, a button down blouse tied at the bottom, and her hair was different, this time a knotted headband sat in the crown of her hair.

"What? The outfit? Oh god no, I got this last year from this really darling little boutique downtown. I couldn't find a reason to wear it but I'm painting the babies room today so I figured this would be appropriate," she said, running a soft tipped brush through her blond curls one more time.

"You look good like that," he grinned sleepily, turning to toss his legs over the side of the bed. The second his eyes were punched with the sunlight streaming in through the nearest curtain, he wished the covers could come back up to shield him away.

"Well thank you," she giggled eventually checking her wristwatch, a gasp leaving her lips. "You have to be in work soon. I think you have about 30 minutes to spare. You want me to make some fresh coffee, maybe make some pancakes for breakfast?".

He smiled at her attentive ways of treating him but shook his head and rose from the mattress to walk over to her. "Not needed, Norma. I'm actually gonna take a few days off from work."

"Really!? Sheriff Romero taking a day off? Well I never thought I'd ever hear of such a thing," she laughed, her eyes shining with excitement it was good to see Alex taking time off from the stress that surrounded his life.

"Yeah well...your words got through to me the other day. I guess I got kinda tired and figured I deserved a break from this shit town," he said, moving towards the bathroom and shedding his shirt, "I'm gonna take a shower. Normally, I'd ask you to join me but uh- you're already dressed."

She pouted, "Poor baby...how about I give you a little something to think about while you're in there," a sinister grin fell over her mouth and she walked to him, taking his head in both hands and placing her lips on his with heated passion.

After a few moments, he pulled away sad to do so, "If I didn't cut it there you'd have to come in with me." Her lips gloss lingered on his thin lips, she tasted of strawberry.

"Sorry honey. I guess you just have to start waking up a bit earlier if you wanna have fun in the mornings," she said, dropping one last kiss on his cheek before heading into the adjacent room to wake Ella up.

Once the baby was in her arms, her small eyes opened up, she had slept a full night much to Norma's surprise. She was pleased the baby didn't cry though it was a rarity.

"Hello baby girl," she smiled, carrying her out of the room over her shoulder. She was very gentle as they walked downstairs, not wanting to startle the newly awoken child. Upon entering the kitchen, she placed the little girl in her high chair and tapped her fingers lightly on her small table, "You want your baba?" she asked, her voice highly lit up in baby talk.

Ella smiled and pat her hands on top of Norma's own, emitting a full belly laugh, "I'll take that as a yes." Soon she filled a bottle with formula and warm milk, slipping it in the microwave and watching as Alex came downstairs.

She took a moment to observe what he was wearing, jeans and a dark navy tee shirt, "Wow, I've just never seen you so dressed down, I'm not sure if I should feel intimidated or not," a laugh left her mouth as she took the bottle and picked up the baby, feeding her gently.

"Oh this?" he asked, playfully gesturing down at his attire, "I actually decided to take your advice. I'm gonna go fishing today down at the lake. Maybe try to get a little piece of mind in the back woods of this shitty place."

Norma smiled and nodded, "Thank God. I'm happy you wanna take time for yourself. You deserve that much." She got distracted once she felt Ella's teeny hand tug at her lone finger sitting on the side of the bottle. "Well, look at that grip!" she laughed, a thumb running along the child's mini hand.

Ella's gaze changed to look over at Alex who was pouring a new cup of coffee before his day out, "Alex..." Norma called quietly, her baby voice back, "I think she wants you." She tried not to be too forceful with the gesture after their talk about his deceased wife and child last night, she didn't want to pile onto any fresh sadness still lingering.

"Me?" he asked, setting the glass mug down while maintaining eye contact with Norma, "I really don't know...".

"You wanna try and feed her? You don't have to if you don't want to..." she said, rocking the baby to try and entertain her. Despite her internal wishes, Alex shook his head and moved closer to the exit of the kitchen, "I don't think so, Norma. Just...not yet."

"Alright, that's totally okay," she replied, watching as half the formula disappeared, she didn't want to give the baby too much so she put her back down in the high chair and put the leftover milk in the fridge. She walked to Alex and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Have fun today, don't stress."

He returned a chaste kiss on the lips and nodded, "Alright baby. I'll see you later."

"If you catch anything worthy of my kitchen I'll be happy to skin the fish and serve it up for dinner," she called out behind him as he headed for the front door.

"Yes, dear."

**X**

It was later in the day, Katie had returned home and taken Ella out for a stroll. Norma stood in the soon to be baby bedroom, a paint brush coated in the chosen custard yellow color. On the burrow she had a small radio blasting, it was the same one from when she was just a young girl. Through all the shit, Caleb and her abusive parents, music was always a quick outlet. She had no idea how she managed to keep it alive for so many years but it was certainly a good piece of nostalgia.

She just picked up the new stenciling and began adding those to the walls. As she got more and more relaxed, the walls almost finished and the sound of The Angels in the background, her phone rang in her pocket.

Norma dropped the paintbrush, silenced the radio, and cleared a piece of blonde hair from her forehead before answering. "Hello?".

"I like that color on the walls but did you ever think about lilac paint?" the voice asked, a creepy laugh coming soon after. A shiver ran down her spine as she hung up the phone.

It was Steven, he was watching her.

_**Wish Black &amp; Blue a happy birthday with a review**_**. Thank you all again! - MJ :) **


	52. Standoff

**Hey, this is my newest chapter. Can't believe I managed to update both stories in one night. Expect more tomorrow because I'm on a writing kick! If you haven't read my newest story **_**Unfaithful **_**please do and let me know how you like that as well! Leave a review if you want more. I promise the next chapter will be just as good. Let me know what you think. Enjoy - MJ123**

Norma immediately freaked out internally, she knew not to contact Katie for the time being, she would worry as well and come back to the house. If Steven was near her on the property or in the home, he could be dangerous and neither Katie nor Ella would certainly be harmed on her part. While painting, she already had the door open a creak, she shut it and locked the bolt.

Her back weighted against the wood, hoping that if he was nearby he wouldn't do anything irrational. Who was she kidding? Of course he was nearby, he knew what colors the baby's walls were. She re-dialed her phone, this time Alex's number. Luckily, he answered on the first ring.

"Hey baby, what's going on?" he asked, sounding calmed down. Norma internally kicked herself she felt so bad bothering him on his only down time. His fishing trip was meant to bring him peace not wind him up. Fucking Steven.

"I need you to come home immediately," she whispered, paranoid that he was right outside the door and listening to every word leaving her lips. "I need you to come home and be armed."

She could hear his breathing start flowing faster, "What are you talking about? What is going on?".

"Alex please..." she said, her voice starting to grow muffled by the arising tears now falling down her cheeks, "I need you right now."

"Okay, I'll be there in five minutes tops. You stay put and just take some deep breaths," Norma could hear him move in the background, possibly picking everything up to go back to the SUV. His soothing voice never stopped to calm her worried surface.

A few seconds later, she heard the SUV door slam shut and Alex veer away from where ever he was, it was obvious that he was worried. "Will you stay on the phone with me?" she asked, her palms growing sweaty and heart racing as she thought she was in danger.

"Of course, Norma. But you really have to tell me what's going on. I can't just walk in and not know what's in store for me. It's just not safe," he explained, driving on the road as fast as possible.

"Alex, Steven called me and he scared me okay?" she explained, growing more and more freaked out as she explained the situation.

His blood started to boil once he thought of that prick causing any form of harm to Norma, "What do you mean scared you?" he asked, his voice staying as low as her own.

"I think he may be watching me from inside of the house. He told me he liked the paint I chose for the baby's room. How else would he know that unless he was watching?" she asked, growing flustered with the situation.

"Okay, okay...just hang tight, I'm so close by. Just don't leave the room you're in right now. I'm gonna come in and if he's there I'll take care of it," he reassured, his foot pressing down on the gas hard.

She sank down to the floor, phone still in hand while her other ear focused on any possible movement going on outside. If he was gone already he succeed in creeping her out. "Are you close by?" she mumbled, hoping to God that he was already out front.

"I will be in a few seconds, I'm driving with my lights on right now," he said, the gravel from the parking lot spewing up in the air from the fast rolling tires.

She could hear the siren outside, but didn't dare move a muscle. If Steven was actually in the hallway he would burst in and try something stupid she just knew it. "Please be careful," she warned, slowly rising from the floor once she heard the front door open.

"Norma, stay put and don't say a thing until I tell you the coast is clear." He hung up a moment later, knowing that the call would interfere with his search. Slowly he crept through the house, gun raised, easy actions taking him from room to room.

"Hello?" he called out, eyes darting all over the place. His head was completely on a swivel for this task.

"Sheriff, are you looking for something?" he heard behind him, immediately he cocked his gun and twisted around to see Steven, he looked drunk and tired like he'd seen quite a few bad days, Alex could smell the mixed varieties of liquor on his body from a few feet away.

"Steven?" he asked, "Where have you been? Why did you leave your baby with Norma?" the questions flying out of his mouth at rapid pace, this was a clear, clean sweep interrogation just without the typical formality.

"That's none of your business. Besides, why would I tell you anything anyway? I don't need to say anything," he scoffed giving him the nastiest glare he could manage.

"Yeah? And why's that? I could have you arrested for not answering to me," he sneered, if there was anything Alex hated the most it was people that undermined his authority.

"I think your the one that owe's me, stop talking to me like I'm one of your little captors," he spat, moving closer to him. For a man in front of a gun he was gaining confidence pretty rapidly.

"What are you talking about? I don't owe you a damn thing," Alex said, his temper rising it was a wonder why he didn't just shoot the gun off and get rid of him. But this was someone's father...that's what stopped him.

"I beg to differ. I believe you stole something of mine," he grumbled, pulling a gun from the waistband of his jeans and pointing it right back at Alex. This was a standoff that could grow violent at any given moment.

"Look, don't do anything stupid with that, I don't think you know how much trouble your going to get yourself into. Now, let's talk about this like men. What exactly did I steal from you?" he asked, one finger on the trigger and both eyes attached to Steven's muffled face.

Steven's finger moved to the trigger as well, aiming at Alex's chest as that one telltale name left his lips, "Norma," with that he pulled and ran. Leaving Alex to fall to the floor.

There was a trail of blood on the rug and Alex's gun fell from his hand onto the hardwood floor. As he gasped for breath he heard the door slam shut.

Everything immediately went fuzzy.

**Leave a review for more - MJ **


	53. Hoping and Praying

**Hey there, Normangles! Nice to have all my readers geared up for this chapter. Sorry it took a bit to write. I hope you all like this, please leave me a review if you enjoyed it and want more. Love you all &amp; Y! - MJ123 :)**

Once a gunshot rang out and buzzed through the Bates home, Norma ran from Ella's nursery and down to the living room. It wasn't Steven lying there but Alex, tears started to flow immediately, he was helpless lying there in a pool of his own blood. His eyes were closed and that made her heart race faster, she took his hand and shook it.

"Alex please, wake up, get up," she begged, crying harder when there was no response, "Alex!" when he didn't react, she grabbed her phone from her pocket with shaking hands and dialed police.

"911, what is your emergency please?" the operator asked, Norma was so startled she could barely speak. She couldn't believe she was looking at Alex struck down by a bullet, she honestly thought he was invincible.

"Hello, yes please...my boyfriend was shot and we need medical attention immediately please," she spoke frantically, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched his hand to her chest, "It's Sheriff Alex Romero, we need someone to come right now."

She figured stating his identity would make help come faster, he was the most important figure to White Pine Bay. If no one came within the next three minutes, Norma would be shocked. She prayed he would receive the best medical care possible.

"We'll be there as soon as possible, ma'am," the man over the phone said, from the fast paced tone of his voice, she knew this was gonna be a big deal, everyone in town would know about Alex's injury in a matter of an hour. She called Dylan next, luckily he picked up on the first ring.

She sniffled but the tears just kept falling, "Dylan, Alex is hurt, okay? We're going to the hospital soon enough. I need you to meet us there immediately." She had never needed one of her son's so much, there was no way she could handle this alone.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down Norma," he stopped her, in attempt to get her to calm down though it wasn't going to work, "What happened exactly? I need you to talk to me."

"Dylan...I just-" she started to break down hard, her body erupting in sadness, "Please, I can't explain right now. Just meet me at the hospital." She hung up after that and then the paramedics arrived, ready to go with a stretcher and all other types of devices Norma had never seen before.

The first medical assistant that pulled Alex onto the stretcher looked to her, "You have anything to do with what happened here, ma'am?" he asked professionally, it was almost as if she was being tagged as a prime suspect already.

She just shook her head and popped her hand over her mouth before more tears came, "No. No, I was upstairs when this happened to him. Is he gonna be okay? Please, I need to know now," she begged, feeling herself slipping away slowly.

"Ma'am, I can't tell you any of that information right now. We need to get him to the ER now, they will do what they can and then we will give you updates," he said, walking away with the stretcher.

She followed behind and looked at Alex, a mouthpiece to help him breath strapped over his thin, unmoved lips, "I'm coming with you to the ER. I'm staying with him."

"And who are you to him, miss?" the man questioned, Norma wanted to hit him at the moment, his voice was beginning to sound utterly condescending. But of course that was just her being impulsive, she didn't want to deal with anyone right now unless they were Alex or one of her kids.

"I'm his fiance," she answered confidently, moving closer to walk beside the stretcher, she held onto his hand as they walked through the parking lot and to the ambulance.

Once they got him all strapped up in the back, Norma climbed in, still holding onto him and crying, "I love you, I love you so much Alex Romero. Please don't leave me," she sobbed, her nose touching the back of his hand.

She just observed his face. Cold. Lifeless. That shook her to the core, the thought of anything happening to him. He was her whole world. From the first time time they sat down and spoke about the shit she had gone through in the first months of moving to White Pine Bay he had promised to protect her family. Then the next year when she was stuck with abusive George Heldens, he took care of her and actually made her feel more loved than ever before. He took care of her all the time with no stops in between.

She was never in love with someone so much. It was just him, she wanted him, and she needed him to survive this. And the second she was in strangling distance of Steven, she wouldn't hesitate. He deserved to have the shit kicked out of him for doing this to Alex. Everytime she looked at his chest and saw that bloody wound, it killed her. Someone who was so weak like Steven had taken down the strongest guy she knew.

Once they pulled up to the hospital, Norma had to let go and let the doctors get Alex set up in a private room. Of course there were numerous deputies standing in the hallway by his room ready to figure out the state of his health. It wasn't a bad thing, it actually made her feel pretty safe.

There she sat in a hospital waiting room waiting to hear is he was dead or alive. She cried by herself, her body shaking until Dylan showed up. The moment she heard him call "Mom," down the hallway, she stood from her chair and walked up to him giving him the biggest hug imaginable.

His heart cracked a bit the second he heard his mother sobbing into his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her middle back and rocked her a bit, "It's gonna be okay, mom. They'll come out soon and I'm one hundred percent sure Romero will pull through," he said, his voice a mumble.

She took his hand and sat with him in the waiting room chair, "You don't know that, Dylan. What if he's really hurt, what if he's de-"

"Hey, don't go there. You always do this to yourself, mom. You worry about stuff when you don't know the whole story or situation. I'm right here with you and I'm reassuring you that he will be okay. He's a strong guy," he reassured, keeping a hand on top of her own.

"Your right, Dylan," she said, staying quiet for a little while while she felt comforted by his presence.

Despite her eldest son's calming words, Norma still had her doubts like always. Alex simply couldn't die.

After all, he was her Superman.

**Thanks for reading and hang tight until the next chapter. It will be a few days so I can rotate and work with **_**Unfaithful**_ **a bit more. If you haven't read that yet, give it a shot. Leave a review for this chapter and let me know your thoughts. Thanks - MJ **


	54. Time of Need

**Hey everyone, here's the newest chapter of Black and Blue. I hope you all enjoy it. Leave me a review and let me know what you thought, I'd appreciate it very much. Thank you all and happy reading - MJ123 :)**

It was later on in the day, maybe one or two hours after Dylan had shown up at the hospital. After about half an hour, Norma had fallen asleep on her son's shoulder. He believed she had tired herself out from crying so much, but that was what happened. When Norma made herself worked up and upset, she would always pass out. Once she was finally out, he tried texting Norman but there was no answer. It wasn't a surprise, he knew his younger brother was upset over Alex and Norma's relationship, only because he got pushed aside however.

He messaged Emma next, knowing that she would respond better. He figured Norman was with her anyway, as always. Once she knew the situation, she agreed to come to the hospital and keep him some company. Dylan couldn't take care of Norma when she was like this, he was never good at comforting people. He reached over to nudge her awake, "Hey, Norma. Wake up," he murmured figuring if the doctor were to come out he would want to inform her on Alex's condition.

She squinted a bit and rose slightly, "What? What happened?" she asked, her voice still incredibly groggy, "Any word on Alex?" her concern rate was still high and just as fast as she woke up, her anxiety was back and through the roof.

"No, not yet. But I'm guessing it'll be alright," he said, noticing his mother tense up immediately once she was aware, "Mom, if something had gone wrong we would've found out by now."

A few seconds after that, Emma walked through the doors and went to Norma immediately. "Oh my god...Norma, are you okay?" she asked, the girl truly loved her like a mother and looked up to her like a role model. Looking at her face she could see how distraught and sad she was, Emma just wasn't used to seeing it, Norma was usually so strong.

She stood from the chair and hugged Emma, starting to cry on her shoulder. She pulled away once a damp puddle of tears started to form on her sweater covered shoulder, "I'm sorry...I didn't- I didn't mean to get your shirt wet," she sniffled, wiping away the tear streaks under her eyes.

"It's completely alright, Norma. Don't apologize. Why don't we go and grab a cup of coffee from the cafeteria. You can tell me what happened," she offered, looking to Dylan. He looked tired as well and she felt bad that he had to deal with his mother all alone.

She nodded and started walking with the girl before turning back to Dylan, "You gonna be alright here? Do you wanna come with us?".

He shook his head and took out his cell phone, "No thank you. You guys go and catch up a bit. I'll keep an eye out for the doctor and if there's any update I'll let you know."

"Thank you, sweetheart," she smiled, a small sad grin reaching her lips. With that, her and Emma started walking and she told her about what happened, how she was painting the nursery and heard a gunshot and the next thing she knew, Alex was down. She also briefed her on Steven and the backstory with him.

"I'm sorry that happened to him. I mean...he was only trying to protect you. I just don't see why Steven would want to come back after all these years," she inquired. From the get go, she knew there were things about the Bates family to be suspicious about, including their family history and it made her feel bad, it wasn't fair that they were always met with a some form of tragedy or disaster at every turn.

"I don't know to be honest with you. Revenge, maybe? I mean...after his brother died I did just pick up and leave Arizona. Maybe I should have told him where we were relocating to. Maybe then he wouldn't have shown up and Alex wouldn't be fighting for his life right now," she said, her voice breaking as more tears met her cheek.

"Norma, I'm gonna have to stop you, okay? This is not your fault. You aren't the one that pulled the trigger," she said, dropping a hand to her middle back. As they were walking through the hallway, Norma saw the doctor that was supposed to be treating Alex.

"Excuse me," she said, trying to hold herself back so she didn't have another breakdown, losing Alex was not an option, having total anxiety over something she wasn't even sure of yet wasn't allowed either, "Is there any update on Alex Romero?".

The doctor took out his clipboard and checked the patient sheet with a tiny smile, "There's no need to worry, Mrs. Bates. We just finished up with Sheriff Romero and he seems to be doing okay. He got really lucky though, the bullet just missed his heart."

At that moment, Norma felt like the luckiest person in the world. For once it was like God didn't want to screw her over completely. "Really...Alex is okay?" she asked, almost like a hopeful little girl. She didn't know whether she wanted to cry or do a cartwheel in that moment.

"Yes, ma'am. He is indeed okay. I wouldn't recommend anything heavy duty for the next few weeks. Just have him rest and keep him as comfortable as possible. We are gonna give him a prescription for any lingering pain he may have for the time being, we will call it in and you can pick it up at Rite Aid later in the day," he said, ripping off a page of paperwork from the clipboard and handing it to her with all the information on Alex's health.

"Thank you," she said, folding up the paper and handing it to Emma, "Honey, will you please go back to the waiting room and put this in my purse?".

She nodded and took the paper from her, starting to walk away before turning back quickly, "Do you want me to tell Dylan about Sheriff Romero or do you wanna do it?".

Norma shook her head and turned to face her, "No. It's alright, tell him what's going on," she said before looking back at the doctor, "So can I see Alex right now? Is he awake?".

The doctor nodded, "I believe so. He's in room 312. If he is awake, you can go in but only for a few minutes. If not, then give it a little while and let him relax," he informed, walking away from her to tend to another patient.

She walked to his room and felt relieved when she saw him propped up, his eyes half open, he must have been exhausted, "Alex," she said, lightly enough to throw him in a daze.

He cocked his head to look at her with a brief smile, "Hi baby," his voice was gruff like he just woke from a light nap, she moved over to him and kissed his lips gently.

"I am so damn happy that you're okay," she said, her eyes starting to shine with tears again. She didn't want him to see her weak, not after everything he had been through that day, it would just be selfish.

He took her hand and pulled it forward to kiss the back of it, "I love you and I'm happy to see you right now," he said. Once Steven pulled the trigger, Alex honestly thought he would never see Norma again. It was unbelievable how he started to doubt his own life after one gunshot wound. But, he was a cop, and his life was on the line everyday.

"I love you too, Alex," she smiled, taking the seat next to his bed and keeping a tight grip on his hand.

"So, do you have any idea where Steven is right now? Did the police get him?" he asked, right now that was the most important thing, catching this asshole and tossing him behind bars for a long time.

"No," she shook her head, "I didn't see him leave. All I saw was you lying on the ground and I called the cops and an ambulance, he had to have ran out of that house faster than lightening."

"Dammit," he sighed, shaking his head, "Alright. I need you to call the police station and tell them to start a search party for him. And you need to make sure everyone in that house, Dylan, Norman, Katie, and Ella, are somewhere out in public. If they are in the home right now, it could be fatal."

"Dylan is with me right now, he's in the waiting room. Norman is gone, he went out to the library this afternoon before everything happens and he normally doesn't come home until late, but I'll call him. Katie and Ella were at the park, I'll contact her too and warn her. She and that baby are probably next on his list to harm," she sighed, growing more anxious with the thought.

He could sense the stress on her face and tightened the grip on her hand, "I don't want you to worry okay. Norma? Everyone will be fine. We'll catch Steven and put him away for what he did."

"Okay, Alex. I trust you."

**Leave a review for more. Thank you - MJ **


	55. A Family Gathering

**Without further or do...here's the latest chapter. I worked hard to use all characters in this one so let me know if you liked it or not. Leave me a review if you want some more, thank you all for reading and enjoy - MJ123 :) **

The next day, Alex was finally released from the hospital and Norma was having one hell of a hard time keeping him off his feet. All he did was resist, but she understood that he wasn't used to being coddled or taken care of, it still didn't stop her from getting tough with him however. It was a good thing everyone was on board, Dylan went out to pick up some things from the house with Emma and Katie had already started on making dinner for the household, luckily she and Ella came home without a scratch on either of them.

Norma finally got Alex set up in her bed, his head propped up by several pillows and the comforter coming up to burrito him in the bed comfortably. She finished fluffing the pillow behind his head and leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead, "Is everything okay, sweetheart? Are you comfortable enough?" she cooed, a hand resting on his cheek.

He cringed a bit as she cared for him, he didn't like his girlfriend acting like a mother to him, it was a little creepy. He also wanted to be a man and being nursed back to health was out of the question. The title of Sheriff did not come along with being babied. "I'm fine, Norma. I shouldn't be in this bed at all, I-"

"I don't want to hear it, Alex. Don't give me that shit. You were shot today, I'm not going to let you get up and move around for a little while until the doctor tells us that your bullet wound is good and healed," she said, this was the way it had always been. The pair had fought ever since their second or third time making contact, though she was in love with him she would never give in so easily.

He sighed and looked up at her with a tired glare, "You're only gonna win this one because those stupid hospital antibiotics made me so tired," with that, he laid back down in the bed focused his attention out the window.

She grinned in victory, there was a sense of pride that washed over her whenever she could win his agreement, "Good. Now, is there anything I can get you? Do you want anything?" she asked, it reminded her of when Norman used to be sick as a child, she would always do whatever it took to make him feel better.

He shook his head and eyed her, "Well...when you say anything, do you really mean anything?" he asked, trying to disguise the faint desire in his voice.

She looked at him and immediately her eyes widened, "No, no...the doctor said you can't do anything like that for the next few weeks. Which means," she began, breaking to get up and straighten out the covers, "No sex for you."

His head fell back hard on the pillow as he pouted a bit, "Oh c'mon...I can't last more than two days without you," he wished it was a lie but it was far from being a joke. She was like a drug to him, he needed to have her when a craving called.

"You're gonna have to try to keep yourself contained for a few weeks, okay? And I promise when you're all healed and you can do all that good stuff again, we'll make it special," she promised, running a hand through his short hair to ease his mind a bit.

"But...I mean don't they say sexual healing does the best job?" he asked, wishing she would give in and be intimate with him. He couldn't help it, he was a man and he was attracted to someone.

"Sweetie," she laughed, "You're not gonna win this one either. It'll go by before you know it. Now, try to focus on something else to get your mind off of that."

"Okay, how about Steven? What are we gonna do about that?" he asked changing from needy boyfriend to Sheriff. Surprisingly enough it was a switch that was easy to flip.

She sighed and put a hand to her forehead, she didn't do well with stress and this was the worst it had been in a long time, the thought of him being out on the loose was too much to think of, "I don't know, Alex. But I'm really scared...I don't wanna see anyone else get hurt and I don't want him to try anything more with you."

He could sense her getting emotional and if there was anything he hated seeing the most it was Norma crying or getting worked up, "Okay," he began, figuring something out quick and returning to her, "Here's what I need you to do. You have to get everyone together. I need you, Dylan, Norman, Emma, Katie, and Ella in the living room so I can devise some kind of plan."

"Alex, I already said I don't want you getting up and moving around," she said, wondering what his idea would be to handle such an awful man.

"All I need to do is walk down those stairs and sit on the couch for a few minutes, it won't be anything strenuous. I need to keep all of you safe," he said, hoping it would change her tune.

She held a hand up in defense and sighed, "Alright. Fine. I'm helping you walk down those stairs though."

He nodded and lay back in the bed, thinking about a good plan that would get this family out of the muck and mud yet again. Norma rose from the bed and walked to the door, "I'm going to get everyone together like you wanted and then I'll come back up to get you," she said, leaving the room.

She couldn't say she had any doubts that Alex would go his job perfectly. He had done his magic and rescued them all before, it was a no brainer that he would do it again this time.

**X**

It was an hour and a half later. Norma had successfully gotten everyone together in the living room. She sat on the floor with the baby in front of her, resting on a blanket as Norma appeased her. Katie, Dylan, and Emma all sat together on the love seat while Norman faced them in a single chair. Alex was perched up on the leather couch as he looked at everyone with tired eyes and a willingness to help.

"I'm gonna start off by saying I don't know much about this guy," he said, trying to maintain eye contact with everyone, "I don't know how dangerous he is and if there is anyone he wants to hurt while on the loose. All I know is he's out there and he is looking for blood."

Katie's face immediately grew flushed and she dropped a hand to her cheek, she was scared shitless of what might happen to anyone in the family that had so gratefully taken her in, "I just wanna apologize to everyone here. I feel like if I hadn't let him come here none of you would be in trouble and," she stopped to motion at Alex, "You wouldn't have gotten shot. I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, it's not your fault," Alex reassured the girl, "He still probably would've done something irrational. Right now it's looking like his mental state is not in the best place. I need to ask if these signs were ever prevalent when you were all a family."

Norma looked to Norman and Dylan and shrugged, "Not really. I know he liked to drink but that ran in the family...his brother did the same exact thing."

Dylan chimed in, "I mean, I was never close with my Uncle Steven but...I always assumed he would be pretty fucked up...y'now based on the way Sam was and everything."

Norman kept his mouth shut and peered at his mother, it was uncomfortable having everyone in their home. If he could have one wish, it would be that he and his mother could be together along. No one else to ruin what they had. For now he put on a face and shrugged as well, "I never really knew him."

Katie looked around and sighed, "He started to drink pretty heavily after Ella was born. It scared me a lot. He was never violent, just a little creepy. One little thing going wrong would drive him almost obsessive to the point of near insanity. Like winning back Norma...that was a big thing for him."

Norma put her head down, "I just don't know why, we haven't spoken in years, why come back now? What's the point?" she asked openly, a hand on the baby's stomach to relax her.

Alex intervened this time, "It doesn't matter. The guy is clearly off and I need you all to listen to me right now. Everyone in this room right now is in danger. I don't wanna scare anyone but it's true. We are all under the radar."

"But what are we gonna do about it? It's not like we can just go out and hunt this man," Emma said, with a small chuckle to try and lighten the mood.

"I'm not gonna suggest that," he said, leaning in close to the group, "We all need to stay here. I mean it. Everyone should have a partner in this house as ridiculous as that sounds. I want Dylan and Norman to share a room. Katie and Emma will stay in the guest room as planned. And me, Norma, and the baby can share her room. Is everyone clear on that?" he asked, giving them all the most serious look he could muster up.

Everyone nodded. And with that he spoke up again, "I'm going to give everyone some kind of weapon. I'm keeping the gun in Norma's room, Dylan I'll give you a taser, and Katie, I'm giving you my mace. If this guy enter's the house tonight or anytime until he is caught, I want them used for protection only."

Once again, everyone agreed with his words. That's the way he liked it anyway. As long as everyone obeyed, Alex would do his job and keep them safe.

**Leave a review and let me know how you liked this chapter - MJ **


	56. Not What It Seems

**IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I wanted everybody to know that sadly this story will be coming to an end soon. Only 10 more chapters or so left. But have no fear! I will come out with a sequel to this story; the only thing is I want everyone to vote on a plot line. I am going to leave my Tumblr username in the author note when the last chapter comes. I want all my readers to visit my page and look at my note containing possible plot ideas, once looked over and thought about, I want you guys to leave me your thoughts/choice in the reviews. I will leave reminders to do this** **frequently so everyone has an opportunity to vote when the time comes. Guys, it's really important that you vote, it's important to me anyway, I want to write what you all want to read, it's my total aim to please. Along with the next installment of Black &amp; Blue, I will also continue Unfaithful for those reading that and enjoying it. I have ideas for a third story as well, that one will be updated less frequently and may take a bit to build up. Bear with me through this process as it's a busy time in my life. Thank you and enjoy this new chapter, leave me a review with your thoughts – MJ123 **

It was later in the evening, everyone was in their assigned rooms with given weapons, the "buddy system" smartly used by Alex. Though the house was guarded with weapons and a trained sheriff, no one could fall asleep, it was far too nerve racking of a situation…there _was_ a potential murderer on the loose.

Emma sat in the guest room, her eyes examining Katie as she sat by the window and stayed completely alert not hesitating to miss any falling leave or crackling branch. She wanted to strike up a conversation with her but wasn't sure how to.

The silence grew awkward after a bit and eventually her head cocked up, "So…um, how do you know Norma and her kids?" she asked, her fingers nervously toying at the hem of her plaid skirt, she was rotten at making small talk with new people, it was almost a fear of hers.

"Oh," she said, turning to face Emma observing her unfamiliar face, "I used to work at a grocery store down in Phoenix where they used to live. I would always say hello and make small talk with Norma…she asked me to babysit Norman a few times and that's how we clicked."

Emma nodded with a tiny smile; she never missed a chance to pry at the Bates. After all, they were almost like a second family; she had the right to know what went on in their everyday lives. "Their good

people. I mean- I love Norman, he's so sweet and insightful and of course no one can forget Norma," a laugh left her lips as she looked down at the ground, "She kinda stepped in as a mom figure to me."

"Yeah, she's good like that. Really maternal, she's good with my daughter that is. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your real mother?" she moved over to sit on the bed, her hands interlocking. She was still nervous about Steven and his whereabouts but talking eased the anxiety down just a tad.

"She left me and my dad. Once I was completely diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and they gave me my pet here," she stopped to signal to her tank and her tubes, "I always figured she didn't wanna live to take care of a sick kid."

"I'm sorry to hear that," she said, the tone of the room mellowing down due to the subject matter, "But y'know…who needs a normal family anyway? It's totally overrated."

Emma laughed and moved a little closer to her, not wanting to be outright with her next question, "Are you afraid of what he might do?" the answer was obvious, but talking was better than silence.

"Of course," she said, running a hand through her hair, "But I'm not so much afraid of what he might do to me…I'm frightened of what he could do to Ella and Norma. He could kill them and I couldn't live with that. It's my fault I let him come here."

"No, no, no," Emma said, quick to comfort by dropping a hand on her shoulder, "This is nowhere near your fault. Don't blame yourself for his actions, I mean he's clearly unstable. And listen to me, Norma and your daughter are going to be okay, they are with Sheriff Romero for the night and he is really good at his job."

"I trust that, I do…but I'm still on edge. With Steven you never know what to expect and now I don't know if he's gonna come at all of us full throttle or with a much more peaceful persona."

"Just don't worry about it, alright?" she said, getting up off the bed to throw the blanket over her, "Sleep for a little while and try not to think about it. I'll keep watch in case anything happens."

"Thanks, Emma," she said, a yawn leaving her lips shortly after, she snuggled her head deeper into the pillow and tried to drift off into a tranquil state of mind.

Emma sat on the chair in the corner of the room they shared, the bottle of mace in one hand and her cell

phone in the other, she was ready to tame the monster if he unleashed.

**X**

Norma sat in her room, the baby in her arms and resting comfortably on her shoulder as her hand came up to massage her back. She was scared out of her mind, the thought of Steven coming into her home and harming anyone else was like a bullet to the brain. Silently, she blamed herself for Alex's injury; it wasn't fair that he paid the price for a stupid mistake she made years ago when she was simply lonely and desperate for male attention.

Her fingers combed up through Ella's small patch of non-existent hair as she looked to Alex, he was sitting next to her, his eyes trying to focus on the book he held. "Alex?" she asked, his head immediately snapping up to look at her.

"Hm?" she could tell by the way his eyes were bloodshot that he was tired, she felt like shit putting him through the hard hitting task of watching her family, it was her job to keep them safe anyway.

"What if," she started, thinking about forgetting the question but she figured it would be best to tell him because he would poke her until she spilled it, "What if Steven comes back and tries to hurt someone in this house…or anyone else for that matter?".

"He's not gonna do that. I'm here and I've made sure that everyone will remain safe under my watch, that's my job. There's no need to worry, okay? Everyone is armed and ready if something happens," he reassured her, dropping a hand to her leg and squeezing.

She nodded and turned her attention back to the baby, she was starting to make tiny gurgling noises which eventually turned into a small, whiny cry. Norma immediately started bouncing the baby on her shoulder as she placed her lips on her forehead.

"It's okay angel," she murmured, her eyes shutting as the crying got louder, "Shhh…please baby girl, you have to keep it quiet, okay?" If Steven was close by and heard his daughter crying, he could find them in a heartbeat and that thought scared her to no end.

Ella's face scrunched up as she kept wailing, all she could do was keep trying to soothe her though the attempts she made seemed to fail each time. Alex looked at her, noticing the stress on her face, "Is there

anything else you could do?" he asked, dying for the baby's cries to stop.

Norma whipped him the nastiest glare she could muster and rolled her eyes, "I am trying! Why don't you do it!?"

Before Alex could protest, Norma had placed the crying baby in his arms. He stared at her awkwardly as she squirmed and fussed in his arms, he tried to rock her, looking back to Norma and remembering her toy, "Do you have her little stuffed rabbit?"

Norma looked to the side of the bed and saw it lying on the floor; she picked it up and handed it to Alex. He took it and dangled the bunny over her head, "Do you want this?" he asked gently, watching as her little hands tried to reach upwards for the toy. He lowered it down to touch her chest so she could access it. Her crying stopped the second her tiny fingers brushed the fake grey fur.

"Awww…" he heard from the other side of the bed, immediately a goofy grin stretched over Norma's lips as she observed the baby and Alex, "Your holding her."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes, hands firmly securing the baby, "Don't make a big deal of it. I'm a Sheriff, okay? Scary, intimidating, I'm not a baby coddler."

"Oh shut up," she said, slapping her hand on his shoulder, "I just think it's cute. You and a baby, I like seeing you so sweet."

He stayed silent and held the girl until she passed out, he was ready to hand her back to Norma but she objected and told him to put her to sleep, he agreed mostly because she was out like a light and the task would be simpler. He walked to her crib and placed her in, putting the rabbit next to her and tucking a blanket over her tiny body. He looked back to her once she was comfortable, "Happy now?"

"Extremely," she smiled lightly, leaning down to rest her back on the mattress. "I'm still scared though."

"You have nothing to worry about, Norma. With me here, you have nothing to worry about."

**Leave me a review if you liked this chapter! Thank you for reading - MJ**


	57. Staff Meetings & Warning Shots

**Hey everyone, I am so sorry for the long wait. Please read this and leave me a review, let me know what you think and what you want. Also, this is off topic but the reason I haven't had the motivation to write is because of *sigh* YouTube videos, I know I know, I am viral trash. But I have to recommend the two channels I have been binge watching religiously for the past three weeks, **_**Angry Grandpa**_ **is one and **_**McJuggerNuggets **_**is the other...please check them out if you haven't already and enjoy. I know I have been. But, I will try my hardest to resume my original writing MOJO...I swear, scouts honor. Love you all, wishing all my readers the best, enjoy - MJ123 :) **

The next morning, no one went their separate ways, going to sleep was hard enough navigating was going to be even harder without the buddy system enforced throughout the day. Everybody stood in the kitchen, cups of coffee and tea being passed around like a joint at a college party.

"So," Dylan's voice broke the fear in the room, "What exactly is the plan for today? Y'know with this so-called psychopath on the loose." The question wasn't poised to anyone in particular, he just threw it out there and expected an answer. He would never share it but deep down he was afraid too, if something happened to anyone of his family members it would be pretty damaging.

Alex, of course, was the one to pipe up, "Everyone is gonna stay put. Except for me...I have to go to work. And I'm gonna warn everyone to search for Steven until he is caught."

"I guess that makes you the hero or something, then?" Dylan replied with no other alternative than to be a complete smart ass. He couldn't help the attitude, it simply ran in his blood.

Norma's head snapped up then, "Dylan," she warned, her voice stern and sleep ridden as she looked at her son in utter hostility.

"What? He just seems so damn cocky about the whole thing-"

Alex immediately cut him off, it was this way the majority of the time, the attitude was obviously there to stay, disrespectful little shit, "Look, I'm just trying to help everyone make it through the day without any blood splattered on the goddamn walls."

He put a hand up to stop his sputtering, "Yeah, yeah, okay. I get it. I appreciated it. Thanks. Now, what happens if he comes here and you're nowhere to be seen? You can't be a hero if you're not present to save those in distress."

"Yeah...I'm well aware. I'm gonna have my best officer patrol this house until I get back tonight. He will be here within the next hour or so everyone will be safe, okay?"

No one said a word, they just nodded, still scared out of their minds. Everyone had a life and they were all on the line, Steven didn't seem to be that vicious at first glance but deep inside was a monster that wasn't afraid of a tooth and nail fight for survival.

**X **

Once Alex went to work, his persona changed into that of the stoic sheriff that everyone had questions and speculations about. He walked to the front of the department and held up a flyer, it contained Steven's picture and all possible information he could dig up on him.

"I need everybody's attention for a few minutes," he said, his voice strict, almost showing how much power he actually held in his job. Instantly, every officer stopped what they were doing and looked at him, ready for any grizzly case that might have been offered up.

"We have someone out there. I'd considered him most wanted right now, he is dangerous and is likely out for blood, I want everyone to take a flyer, pass them around, observe them, and get out there to catch him. We clear?"

Most nodded and took the papers he passed out, except one, a new officer, young and fairly handsome who just had to raise his hand. Alex hated newbies, they were all showoffs who just wanted his position in the long run. "What?" this day was already giving him a headache, if this guy pissed him off, he could snap.

"Uh, so...how dangerous is this guy exactly? Like on a scale from one to ten?" he asked, the tone of voice reeked of utter stupidly and everyone around him just shook their heads subtly, they knew how the job worked.

A one to ten scale? Did this guy need him to rip off his shirt so he could see the bullet wound? "There's no scale for this type of thing, alright? Just believe me when I say he is most likely armed and dangerous and looking for a fresh target."

Just then, another man in the office stood up, his name was Ridgway, he'd worked there for 30 years and was about to retire, Alex nodded his way and awaited the response.

"Sir, I can't help but realize the last name Bates. This wouldn't have anything to do with that yuppie girlfriend of yours now would it?" he asked, his voice cocky and arrogant. Alex had half the mind to slam his head on the desk and watch the blood spill, but he'd already had his morning coffee and besides anything that rash would just be over dramatic. His blood however really started to boil when those in the office started chuckling lightly.

"My personal life is none of your business, I'd suggest you keep the arrogant questions to yourself before I fire your ass, and if you ever refer to Norma Bates as anything other than a citizen of this town I will bash your head against the wall. Now is everyone clear on their job?"

No one else chose to voice their opinion, the best part was watching Officer Ridgway drop back down to his chair with a huff and a foreboding smile. He wanted so badly to smack him, but smartly walked back into his office dead set on finding more information on this piece of scum.

**X**

It was later on that night, everything had gone smoothly at the house. Everyone followed directions and stayed put, while the house was patrolled. Alex had let his officers search all over for Steven with no luck so far, but that didn't mean the search was over, as a matter of fact it was far from being over. His deputies were ordered to search all night until they found something and not to contact him until the job was done.

Now, they all sat in the living room, multiple cans of soda and bottles of water resting on the table along with a bowl of popcorn. Some random romantic comedy was on the television, something of Norman's, a black and white one from 1950 something.

It wasn't long before some fell asleep, Norma was already passed out on Alex's shoulder, his arm resting around her waist. Katie and the baby were both drifting off to sleep and everyone else was struggling to keep their eyes open. That was until the gun shot. It didn't hit anyone, it was simply a warning shot. Everybody jumped up then, and of course Ella started wailing at the noise.

They all turned to see Steven, disgruntled, dirty, and full of ultimate range. His mouth opened up as he pointed the gun at various people in the room.

"I'm not done here."

**Leave a review if you want more. Thanks - MJ **


	58. All About Rationality

**I'm baaaaack. Did anyone miss me? I missed all of you. This is short but please forgive me. I hope I didn't loose any loyal readers over my personal hiatus. If you enjoy this leave a review for more, that will only motivate me to add. Thanks - MJ123 :) **

Everyone in the room froze once their eyes gravitated towards the gun in Steven's shaky hand. Alex was the first to stand up, though the injury had taken him down the first time he figured he had nothing else to lose, these people were already like his family and his duty was to protect them. He knew not to take out his gun just yet, but instead to talk him out of doing something crazy.

"I'm warning you…" he said and though he was freaked out internally and he could feel everyone, especially Norma's eyes on him, he wasn't about to back down from whatever this would turn out to be.

Steven scoffed brutally, lowering the pistol a bit, an amused look on his face, "You're warning me? I'm warning you, you really wanna mess with me again, Sheriff? I don't think that worked out for you so well the last time," his voice was full of gentle slurs, whatever he had been drinking there was no doubt it had been strong.

Norma was next to stand up, taking Alex by the shoulder and tugging a bit. He was immediately aware of her, his feet stayed planted to the ground, he didn't want her to get in the middle of this. She could feel his most protective side coming out but didn't care, she pushed him aside a bit and stood in front to face a drunken Steven.

"Am I what you want?" she asked bravely, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes focused to his glassy ones. "Am I the reason you're starting all of this chaos?"

"You know something, Norma," he began, scratching the back of his head with the gun, "For a long time you were. I swear it - you, you were always a main player in my sadness. I missed you for quite a bit and then of course I found Katie and had a kid but you were always still there. And now I'm trying to get you out of my fucking head!" he shouted, now raising the gun to her.

Though the telltale bullet was aimed at her, not a bead of sweat dropped down her forehead, she shook her head and tightened her stance. The second Alex started speaking, she turned around briefly to face him, "Norma, move aw-"

"No, Alex. I've got this," she said, cutting him off and looking back at Steven. This guy was drunk and clearly still in love with her, "You're not gonna do that. You wouldn't do that."

"Oh yeah? What makes you think I wouldn't?" he asked harshly, moving closer and putting the gun to her forehead, still Norma didn't move, not even so much as shake or flinch.

Then Norma remembered the miscarriage. She didn't want to admit the long buried secret. Especially not in front of everybody, of course Alex already knew about it, but not her sons or anyone else for that matter. "Steven, I think you know why…" she started, her palms growing sweaty.

"Nope. I don't think I do. Why don't you enlighten me?" he asked again, pressing the head of the gun deeper into her flesh. She could feel Alex's hand stealthily resting on her lower back to try to relieve her.

"Because…" she hesitated, not able to look anywhere else except for the floor.

"Because why?" he asked, the torture and mockery in his tone made her want to pop off but she was wiser than to do that. She knew he would kill her right on the spot if she did anything irrational, though that was her typical nature.

"Because, Steven, I almost had your child. Are you really gonna kill me? You love me...you loved our connection. You loved me after the miscarriage and you loved me after Sam's death. So go ahead, kill me, shoot me right here and now in front of everyone. It won't kill the love you have for me, it will only make you miss me more, you really want that?" she asked, her eyes locked with his, everyone else in the room seemed to disappear once she spoke. She could tell that mouths were dropped open wide and eyes were shot awake.

To her surprise, it worked. Steven lowered the gun and started to cry then, crying over the loss of his almost child and of course the loss of Norma's affection. He wished he could go back in time then. "You know...I didn't think you remembered…" he trailed off drunkenly.

She shook her head and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Yes. Of course I remember. That was my child too, I wasn't just going to forget about it. I also remember and know how much you love me. And if that notion is true, you will give me that gun and forget all about this nonsense."

He scoffed and looked up at her with a tad of rage in his eyes, "And why the hell should I do that?"

"I already told you, you love me. If you love me, you won't kill me or any of the people I love. Plus," she paused, turning around and walking towards the bassinet, pulling out Ella and cradling her, "Your daughter is right here. Are you going to kill people with no mercy in front of her? Don't you love her?"

He stopped and stared at the sleepy baby in Norma's arms and dropped his gun to the floor, "Of course I do. And I love you too. This is how it's supposed to be. You, me, and her. Our own family just like the one that was ripped away from us."

Immediately Alex swerved and grabbed the gun from the floor, Steven paid no attention to him however, he was fixated on Norma and his daughter. "No, no...don't you see? Katie is her mother and she loves her very much. And I have a family I care about, I have a finance I am deeply in love with. You can't take these things away for your own selfish benefit, Steven."

Alex grabbed Steven just then, wrestling him to the ground, and holding him down with a knee as he motioned to Dylan to toss him his trusty handcuffs. He got the signal and threw them his way and in one swift lucky catch, they were latched to his wrists. He stayed silent then. Norma moved quickly to let Ella rest with Katie while she finished the job.

Emma and Dylan ran out to get the police. Alex looked at Norma with a lot of love and appreciation, she had protected everyone around her with absolutely no trace of fear. That was his true love. She was a simple warrior. And just when he thought her bravery was over, she kneeled down to Steven and put a surprisingly sympathetic hand on his back.

"We can't always get what we want in this world, Steven. We can only hope for the best and see what the outcome is."

**Like it? Leave me a review and let me know! XOXO **


	59. Blood Of Too Many, Dissolving The Stain

**Surprise bitches! Hope everyone had a really good belated Valentine's Day. I turned 18 a few days ago and decided to give all of my readers and myself a gift of getting back in touch with this story and I hope all enjoy what I came up with. Hope all of my readers are doing well. Let me know how you feel about my return and this chapter in the reviews should you choose to leave one. Thank you and I'm happy to be back - XOXOXO MJ123 :)**

The cops came 15 minutes later, flashing lights, lots of questions regarding Steven's mental state and if everyone was injured. No one really gave much description on anything, some were still in shock, some were slowly coming to terms with the events that happened. Norma for instance, got a lot of praise from Alex for defusing the situation and selflessly taking care of her family.

It was only later, when Steven was long gone on a trip to the best jail in Portland and everyone was asleep, did Alex truly sit down with his fiancee and talk about the events of the night. They were perched in bed, too tired and awake all at once.

"Were you scared?" he asked, his hand slowly making soothing patterns on her upper thigh.

She shook her head and thought internally about all that had gone on that night, she had a loaded gun to her forehead, if she thought really hard, she could still feel the metal about to implant into her skull. "No, not at all actually. This town has made me practically desensitized to that kind of shit."

Now he was intrigued, of course he understood but only from his viewpoint, he had been Sheriff of the damn town for so long he had his fair share of near death experience from seedy criminals, nothing phased him. But Norma, the woman he fell hard for, was a gentle bird with a broken wing when they met, he wondered if the strength was internal before tonight. "How do you mean?"

"Well, before I moved here, I started to wonder if I would live to see 39 years old. Anything would make me flinch back in Arizona, maybe because of Sam, maybe because of growing up with the combination of my father and Caleb, I don't know. Then I moved her and I killed someone. I killed a man for doing something so horrible to me. And if you really wanna know...it felt good." She took a pause and scootched over to face him, "I'm not claiming to be a sociopath or anything of the sort, I'm just saying that after years of being held down, I was brought up. And now...I don't feel a thing in those types of situations."

He sat silent and nodded, feeling foreign to the admission of the murder out loud. He hadn't heard her honesty with the situation since the first year of her arrival. He was a cop and strangely enough, he didn't feel weird about her confession. "I know what you mean."

"You know what I mean? Like...killing someone and feeling good afterwards?"

He nodded. "Back in 2002, I was called down to the bar downtown, some altercation going on in the alley outside. Anyway, I show up and see this guy viciously raping this poor girl. She had to be 18 years old at the time. I shot him, right in the back of the head to stop him and save her. I felt good after that, just the feeling of killing someone who was doing something so bad to someone so innocent killed me internally."

At that moment, she knew she picked a good man. It was ironic, she picked a man that wouldn't have harmed a butterfly but would've demolished a lion. He was simply someone who wanted to kill all evil. "It's so weird to sit here with you now, Alex. Remember our first few months knowing each other?"

"I hated you. I hated you so much to be completely honest. I couldn't understand you or your family and why all of you seemed so shady and then I saw who you were, who you all were and um...now I can't get enough of you," he admitted, it an incredibly odd dynamic, he still got teased at the station every now and again because he fell for someone so crazy.

"You can't get enough of me, huh?" she laughed, she couldn't get mad at him for admitting previous hatred, it was utterly mutal, "You know, you were a pretty huge ass when we first met. So closed, so tight lipped, you never let me in. Now you tell me everything." Her chin raised in the air adorably, "I have complete control."

He rose an eyebrow and looked at her, "You like control over me?"

She nodded with a smile. It was something inside of her, she loved having men under her spell, it was the way she was raised. Her mother always told her she would add fuel to a man's fire no matter what. One could say that she was certainly making Alex's world a bit more crazy.

"Do you feel like taking control right now?" he asked seductively, moving his hand higher up her thigh.

"No...it's not you. I'm just really tired, it's been a long day, y'know."

He nodded, "Understood. But um...speaking of that, I was thinking the other day. I keep thinking about our wedding and our honeymoon and all of that stuff. I don't want anything big to be completely honest with you, we are too old for a wedding, let's face it."

She thought about this. Did she really wanna get married like that for the second time? A ceremony and family and all of that stuff? It wasn't something they could afford anyway, right? But then a different question came to mind, one that stroke the most worry in her mind, "Wait...do you still wanna marry me?"

He took her hand and kissed her cheek, "Yes. I want to marry you 100%. I am ready to be your husband. I just don't like the idea of a wedding, traditionally I mean. I'm just ready to take you and run away with you somewhere and put a ring on your finger."

It came out of her mouth so simple, so casually, "Wanna elope?" It fit after all, she was one of the most impulsive women out there and figured she loved Alex enough to respect his wish.

"How about I find somewhere really pretty and get a really good minister and I'll surprise you? I promise to make it something special that we will love."

She nodded and leaned over to kiss him, a silent reassurance that his suggestion was fine with her.

She loved him and he loved her and that would only become more concrete whenever they attended whatever their ceremony was set out to be.

**Thank you and leave a review if you'd like. Remember, they help me get better and influence me to write more - MJ **


	60. Confessions of a Murderer

**Hey, everyone. I've been on a wicked writing high lately so I whipped this little chapter up to keep all of you content. Happy to know you're all still reading and with me 100% on this story. Not sure what I would do if it wasn't for all of you backing me. I love all of you incredibly and I want you all to enjoy this! Leave me a review if you want and always remember that they really do keep me going! - MJ123 :) **

It was a week later. Katie and Ella may have left Norma's home but they were still in White Pine Bay. Katie had some minuscule cash left over and with it, Alex was able to help find her a decent sized and affordable apartment. He had to pull some strings with the landlord but it was worth it to get her set up and comfortable in Oregon. She wanted to be close to the only people she could really call family.

Steven had been locked up for good, he had quite the sentence for attempted murder. There was to be no more mention of him or the events that happened amongst any of the players, too much shit had happened over the past three years to harp on this burden. Overall, they were the Bates, and they could get over any dark matter.

All heavy subject matter still needed to be swiped off the table, in order to do this Norma had put most of her energy into the elopement idea. She went to the store with Norman, her precious boy and someone she felt that she had began to lose touch with ever since Alex branded himself into the picture. Her main goal was to get a cheap wedding dress, something fun and not too formal or over the top.

Norman didn't seem to have much enthusiasm at all while they walked through the vintage store downtown. He had that same scowl on his face that had been planted there since Norma announced the engagement. Her fingers were peeling through numerous lacy ensembles as Norman took a seat closest to where she was.

"Mother, are you really going to go through with this?" he asked, his voice dark, something oh so foreboding. It was the same voice he used whenever he was about to either hit a blacked out state or throw a fit towards those who cared about him.

She nodded into the section of dresses and turned to Norman with a serious, almost sad look, though she didn't mean for it to come off like that. She was far from being sad about marrying Alex, she was actually extremely excited. "Yes, Norman. I'm marrying Alex."

"Do you want to do this? Or is this marriage some cheap manipulation you have concocted in order to get us out of some kind of trouble? Are we in danger, Mother?" he asked, making Norma worried about who was around to hear him speak. She already went through enough from the strangers of this shitty town, she didn't want dirty looks while looking for something that was to suite a happy occasion.

"No, Norman. Now...sit down and shush. You're causing a scene," she snarled, turning her attention back to the row of dresses. She let her eyes rest towards a long hippy-like ensemble, it had an open back and a floral top. Though she found something pretty and wanted to try it on, she could still feel Norman's cautious eyes hitting her in the back like a string of sharp darts.

"Then why are you doing this, Mother?"

She took the dress and held it over her arm. A sigh left her mouth as she turned back to her weary son, "Because, Norman. I am incredibly in love with Alex, okay? I love him. And I've never felt that way about a man in my life. Not your father, not Dylan's father...this is a good thing for me."

"For you, Mother, of course it is. But what about me, huh? Am I just supposed to sit in that house with you two all lovely dovey? And I get slapped aside like a used wash rag?" his venom was pure and spewing right in her face, it was like everything she said before didn't matter.

"Norman," she began sadly, taking his hand in hers, "I would never forget about you. I love you to the ends of my heart. Okay? No man will ever alter the way we act towards each other, honey. We will always be solid. I can't have you thinking like that, I don't want you thinking like that."

He simply nodded, though internally he was fuming with the way she seemed to be shoving him away. "Yes, Mother."

"Are we good?"

He just smiled his usual good boy grin and stood to help her with the dress. "Of course, Mother. We are good. I am happy for you, for Sheriff Romero."

She paused and smiled, giving her boy a hug. "Good, Norman. And Alex, well...he wants to help be a father figure to you and Dylan, y'know. He wants to be apart of our family. And I really want you two to start bonding."

"Sure thing, Mother. We will do something together soon," he promised though it was only something to keep her happy. He would rather eat the organs of one of his famous stuffed birds than actually force a bond with someone he hated to the very core. And it wasn't because he thought Sheriff Romero was a bad man, oh no...it was because he got to be with Norma.

Nothing would ever stand in the way of their bond. It was supposed to be Norman and his dear mother until the very end of time. They would always have their fresh start, Alex was simply a road block in the plans.

They would get the life they always dreamed of. Whether Alex's blood was on his hands or not.

**Hope everyone enjoyed. Leave me a review and let me know what you're all thinking about Norman's new demeanor… - MJ 3 **


	61. The Beach of Love

**Hello Chapter 61! I'm feeling good and really wanted to put all of my effort back into this story. This fanfiction has become my project over the last three years and I'm so happy I've gained all your support throughout the process. Thanks for reading and please leave me a review for any fun wedding ideas. Let me know how you feel about this chapter and the different mix of characters I used this time. I thought it would be fun to write a discussion between these two in particular. Anyway, enjoy and let me know if you liked it! - MJ123 XOXO**

Morning came and Alex was lucky that Norma stepped out to complete some errands that "had to be done". It would give him time to continue the never ending wedding location search. There was no doubt in his mind that this ceremony had to be special and heartfelt, one of the many reasons the couple chose to elope, but it was so hard to find the right area.

As he puttered outside, another stroke of luck came...Emma. She was a female, right? She knew what women liked and found romantic. There was no way he couldn't ask her for help, he would just need her to keep quite about the reception. God forbid anyone were to find out.

She was standing by the office, looking over some piece of paper. He slowley paced up to her, eyes out to make sure no one else was around, "Hey, Emma," he started, friendly yet still stoic enough to keep any questions she may have had haulted.

"Oh," she smiled, adverting her kind eyes to his, "Hey, Sheriff. What can I do for you?"

"Uh…" he looked around awkwardly, thinking of the proper way to bring it up, "I needed your input for something but I can't really- I need you to stay quite about it."

She just nodded and rolled her arms in a "keep going" expression.

"Look, Norma and I are gonna elope. We didn't want anyone to know about it, okay? And-

"You two are going to elope?" she asked, her young eyes filled with a sweet, over glazed look. This was clearly the wrong person to talk to.

_Too late to go back now, Romero. _

He sighed, keeping his look trained on the ground, "Yep. We are gonna get married but in a private setting, away from all of this craziness, y'know? And I'm supposed to find a good place to do it. I just, I can't for the life of me find anywhere nice. Not in this shitty town at least."

She nodded, "You want me to help you find somewhere pretty, right?"

He hated when people did that. He hated asking people for help and having them be overly happy to assist. This wasn't supposed to get out anyway. But like the unromantic guy he was, he couldn't muster anything good enough that would please his soon to be wife and of course the only thing he wanted was for her to be happy on their day.

"Yes. Essentially. I just need somewhere that she would like. Nothing too extraordinary but nothing boring either. I don't know, I just need a place," he explained, already feeling nervous about any choice he would make.

"I think I have somewhere really nice that you would both love. It's really pretty, it's the beach near the old fishing lot. I had Bradley Martian's remembrance party their a few years back. I know it's not really a good subject to conitate with your wedding but...I mean, it's small, quite, and you can really see the sunrise and set over White Pine there."

He thought about it...a beach. They already decided on something of the sort when they originally sat down to plan a full, big wedding. He didn't hate the idea of marrying her in that setting, it was pretty and peaceful. Emma won here, he was just shocked that he couldn't come up with that simple idea as quickly as she had. He was grateful, but of course he wouldn't exactly show it.

"Thanks, Emma. I think I may take you up on that."

With that, he started back to the house, but she wouldn't let it go.

"Wait a sec," she said, following closely behind him, "Don't you want my help decorating or finding some kind of minister to make your vows offical?"

"Nope," he said, "No, thank you. I just needed to find a place. I got a fair handle on everything else that needs to be done. And I uh- I appreciate the help I do."

"Well, okay," she said, seeming disappointed at his lack of reliance on her. "But let me know if you need help with anything else, though. Norma is like my own mother and I want her to be as happy as can be as well so...yeah. Just tell me when you need more help."

"Yep. I will, Emma. Thanks. And please just don't say anything to anyone, okay?"

"You have my word, Sheriff. I won't let anyone hear about the plans," she winked, walking back to the office.

He sighed and silently thanked anything that could hear him for the ease of that situation.

Though the location was picked out, there was stili so much to do. And a lot of areas that he could screw up in. Whatever he decided to do, it would take a lot of time and effort.

_**Thanks for reading and remember to keep up with the updates! I think I finally got my writing mojo back - MJ123 :) **_


	62. Her Dress Should Be White

**Warning: Short but sweet! Enjoy and leave me a review if I left you with the warm nippy tingles - MJ123 :) **

Long days always made Norma crave a cup of tea and a warm shower. Though only 31 years of age, she had certain mannerisms of a 65 year old woman. Now as she let hot jets of the water hit her back, she let out a content sigh. Just an hour earlier, nimble fingertips bought a second and final wedding dress. This was something she was happy to lug into her bedroom, lightweight and lacy, she was lucky she was able to find such a good hiding spot. She would hate for Alex to find it before their little ceremony.

The scent of apples and melons soon filled the mist of the shower stream, as she lathered her skin with the bubbles. When she heard the sound of the bathroom door open….

_God dammit, I knew I should've locked the door._

She immediately got nervous, this town, this house would never be quite safe. You never knew what would be coming around the corner to get you. That's the mantra Norma lived by at least. She could never be too sure of what to expect so she crouched a bit.

"Hey, it's just me," it was Alex's voice and this was the moment she could wipe the sweat off of her forehead. She put her hair under the water and rinsed out the shampoo before peeking her head out. He was peeling his clothing off. Just his boxers were left on now.

She grinned as she watched him change, "You want me to get out so you can take a shower now?" it was a joke of course, to which he chuckled and leaned in to kiss her. He stepped in a second later. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let his scent fill her nostrils.

"You smell good," she said, laying her head onto his chest, "Didn't you just shower this morning?"

"Mmm…" he nodded, digging his own nose into the top of her soaked hair, "I did. But I'm not gonna sit here and miss a chance to see you naked."

She slapped him playfully on the back, "Stop being crude."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" he said, wrapping his arms around her lower back, "It's just…"

She paused the second he was about to pose something and looked up at him, any discontent was not warranted in this relationship. She was destined to make this solid and avoid fighting at all costs. "What's wrong?"

He sighed and looked away, a classic move of his to avoid talking about something, "We haven't had sex in a little while and I've been afraid that you're not...into it anymore."

She laughed internally at the way his voice lowered on the last couple of words, so self conscience, so adorable, "Aw sweetheart," she giggled, leaving a tiny kiss on his upper chest, "I've never lost in interest, trust me. There's just been a lot going on with Steven and all that shit. I haven't had time to...want it? I don't know."

"I get it," he said, leaning down to look at her, "You're just really beautiful and I don't know how long I can sit here and resist you."

She smiled and leaned up to kiss him, the kind of lip lock that stood as a claim for another person. Slowly but surely, his fingers slipped inside of her. Though it felt amazing after not having any contact for so long, she had to pull away and give him a small pout.

"Alex, honey" she began, a smile on her face. The moment he heard her break for real conversation, he stopped what he was doing and gave her his full attention, afraid he was hurting her or making an uncomfortable move.

"Are you okay? That doesn't hurt, right?" he asked cautiously, his hand now moving up to cradle her lower back.

She could've teared up at his gentle ease towards her. No one had ever been that careful with her before, "No, not at all. Felt amazing...I just, I wanted to wait until our wedding night to finally start doing it again. I just think it'll be so much better because we will have to wait a while."

"Okay," he smiled, leaning down to kiss her cheek, "If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do. Besides, you're probably right. Speaking of that, I should probably find a good spot for our honeymoon."

She nodded, "I'm sure whatever you choose will be perfect. And um...I found my dress today, I just hope you like it."

"You're gonna look like a princess. No doubt about that," he added, keeping his eyes locked down on her.

He always made her feel so confident and beautiful in the best ways possible. "I love you," she murmured, tightening her grip on his body.

"I love you, too"

Alex placed a kiss on her head as the steam from the shower filled the bathroom and nothing was to be heard except the pounding of their hearts against one anothers.

**Hope you all enjoyed that one! - MJ 3**


	63. A New Beginning

**After a long wait, here you have it. Leave me a review and please let me know what you all think. I had you all in thought the whole way through and I hope this hit all the right notes. Enjoy - MJ :) **

The heart swelling day had finally arrived.

Alex was planning to surprise Norma with the extremely low key ceremony. He set everything up early in the morning. Nothing too big. He took Emma's suggestion of the beach, it was quiet and secluded after all. There were rose petals scattered around the sand of the beach, lucky for him it wasn't too windy.

He was also talking things over with the minister, neither were really religious but they figured it would feel normal to have one. Both parties decided to write their own vows. Now, he was shaking. He was so nervous, scared that he wrote the wrong thing or would mess up reciting them to her. Two years as a pair and he still got that knot in his stomach whenever he saw her.

It was something he scribbled down on a napkin. He was on break from work and stopped in a bar to get a drink, once flooding through his system he was able to loosen up and spill some surprisingly sweet shit about Norma. Once he read it to himself, he knew she would love it.

He hoped she would love the setup and the final choice of location and his tux of course. No bells or whistles on attire either, it was a simple black suit with a blue tie, the color of her eyes, he found it in a store and thought of her. The knots were starting to form in his stomach again the moment he pictured her. The two of them. Married. Together. Unified as an official pair.

**X**

As the sun set in and the birds seemed to chirp inevitably louder and louder, Norma was stressing out, puttering around her bedroom looking for this and that. She kept trying to remind herself that no, this was not a formal wedding and there wouldn't really be anyone to impress or put on a show for...just her future husband. It still felt weird to say out loud. _Alex Romero will be my husband_. From sworn enemies to love birds. It was quite a far jump.

The moment she slipped on her wedding dress, some of the stress started to fade, it fit so well around her body, like a glove actually. Overall, she was proud of her choice, not too dressy but the perfect amount bohemian to make the look seem carelessly romantic. It was a simple decision to leave her hair down and tousled with the same type of makeup she always wore, these were things she knew Alex loved about her since day one.

She was incredibly nervous as she drove to the designated spot. It was beautiful, she knew the beach he chose by heart, after all it was one of the prettiest spaces in White Pine Bay. Her nails dug into the leather of the steering wheel a bit as she curved throughout the classing winding roads, her anxiety was going through the roof as she got closer and closer to seeing him.

The moment she pulled up, she realized what was happening. She was going to get married to a man she loved, not because of any obstacle or consequence. This was her own choice, this was the right choice. Internally, she was ready to be bound to him forever, her heart was actually occupied for once in her life.

These thoughts became further concrete once she got out of the car and walked down the sandy path coated with rose petals. It may have been too early to cry but she didn't care, she was already tearing up and the ceremony hadn't even begun yet.

**X **

The second Alex saw Norma, everything else faded away, it was like no other woman had ever even exsisted. There was no background noise or scenery. It was all her, she owned every moment of it. That dress, the way it sat on her beautiful body, the sunlight shining off of the silk and lace. She was angelic.

She walked up to him and took his free, cold hands. Her smile grew wider once she picked up on his appreciation of her attire. It worked, then again she could've worn a piece of tin foil for a dress and he would've thought she was lovely. That was the best thing about him, he always loved her no matter what the circumstance. And he looked handsome as ever as well, the suit fit him just right and highlighted how suave he could be.

Just then the minister chimed in, "Would you two like to began?" his voice was quiet, the two didn't want to spoil the silence so they nodded in response. Both were too in awe of each other to say anything to anyone else.

He looked down at his ordinance and began, "We are gathered here today to join Alexander Matthew Romero and Norma Louise Bates in matrimony commended to be honorable among all; and therefore is not to be entered into lightly but reverently, passionately, lovingly and solemnly. Into this - these two persons present now come to be joined. I believe you two have written your own vows, I will let you recite them now."

With that he stepped back and it was all them.

Norma was the first to make a movement, her eyes already wet with tears as she reached down to pull a small piece of paper out of a hidden spot of the dress, she cleared her throat and began…

"Alex, you accept my madness. I guess that's why you could say I love you. I know I'm a lot to handle and you just have this thing inside of you, a generous, protective, light that you are giving enough to shine on me. Throughout all of this stuff we go through on a day to day basis, you somehow always find a way to catch me from falling and to win the title of a hero in my eyes. So I suppose I win today, I get to marry my hero, my trustee, and the love of my life. I love you more than anything and I am the luckiest woman alive to be able to wear your ring and win the title of your wife. For that I thank you," she said, breaking down on the last word, her tears were out of pure happiness and joy and luck that the universe was finally giving her something amazing.

He was blown away by her, never knowing she could be so sweet, he wasn't gonna say anything yet, rather he was going to respond with his own speech to her…

"Norma Louise, I can't believe how lucky I am to be standing here right now ready to call you my wife. Never in my life did I ever think I would be able to find something so beautiful and call it my own. As a boy, I used to catch fireflies with my mom. I would take them and keep them in the jars for hours, just watching them glow because they were so pretty. My mom would tell me to release them because nothing wonderful or gorgeous could last forever. And now I'm happy to say that you and the relationship we share defies that statement in the most glorious way. We have each other. It's been a long ride but we have always taken care of the hardships. To you I promise anything I can offer and anything to keep you happy. I love you more than words can say and I'd be more than happy to call you my firefly."

She didn't say anything but her tears didn't stop throughout his speech. Even though he said it to her a lot, she never really comprehended how much he actually loved and cared about her. Once he reached out to clear the tears from her cheek, she knew nothing could break their happiness.

The minister knew it was his cue to chime back in with the ending notes of the ceremony, "Norma, Alex, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. It is with these in mind that I pronounce you husband and wife. You have kissed a thousand times, maybe more. But today the feeling is new. No longer simply partners and best friends, you have become husband and wife and can now seal the agreement with a kiss. Today, your kiss is a promise. You may kiss the bride."

Alex leaned in and kissed her with the most love he ever had.

This was love real, this love was theirs.

**Thank you for reading, everyone. I'll be back soon with the next chapter! - MJ XOXO**


	64. Take Me Down Into Your Paradise

**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT/DEDICATION:**

**Who else is excited for Monday? We gain our favorite TV family back after so long and I am jumping up, practically kissing the moon with excitement! Any way, this is for all of you who I know have been wanting a little bit of smut. Not my best but I was extremely rusty so please forgive me. There are so many good Rated M fanfictions on AO3 now, I definitely have some amazing competition. For all of you who love smutty Normero, I would suggest ****SegaBarret ****and ****APrivateTrap****, their work never ceases to amaze me. Though they probably don't read my stuff, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to them because they inspired me to get in touch with my inner sexy side while writing this. Anyway, please enjoy and leave me a review with your thoughts if you'd like. Happy reading, kids - MJ123 :) **

After the ceremony, the newlywed couple treaded the sand lightly holding hands and watching the sun set slowly. The way they gripped hands was a beautiful thing, tight enough to silently say "I wanna keep you forever" and "I'm only content with you so never let me go".

"Hey," Alex began, a smile drifting to his face, "You wanna know something?"

Taking note of the joy on his face made her heart swell, she honestly couldn't believe that they were married after so much trial and error, it was shocking. "What's that?"

"I'm in love with you," he said simply with a small chuckle. He tugged her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist, observing how beautiful she had made herself that day just for the sake of their union and his pleasure.

"Aw," she said, leaning in to kiss him again, "I'm in love with you. And I'm really happy that now, after two years of dating, I am Norma Romero."

"Ah, that's right. I've haven't heard that out loud yet. Makes me happy that you finally said it," he was truly happy that a women finally took his last name. It would've made his mother so happy. She would have loved Norma, they would have gotten along so well. Silently, he wondered if he fell for Norma because she reminded him so much of his own mother. Brave, would do anything for her children, outspoken in times of desperation. Yes, his late mother and Norma could've been personality twins if given the chance.

Her gentle voice broke the silence of his thoughts, "So, do you think we made the right decision by eloping and doing this so privately?"

"Oh yeah," he nodded, slightly tightening his grip on her hips, "I couldn't have said all that sweet stuff in front of a crowd. I mean...I love you to absolute bits but it's really hard for me to express that kind of thing in front of people. I would've fumbled all over my words and looked like a total freak."

She shook her head, "You would've been fantastic. And besides, I agree with you. I just think that some of the most romantic things in life are expressed in private."

He grinned before leaning in to kiss her hard on the lips, not holding any form of intimacy back. After a few seconds, and much to the dismay of his wife, he pulled away to press their foreheads together, "Is that a good example of private and romantic?"

She just nodded, craving the taste and feel of his lips pressed against her, she wished he never pulled away from her. She laid down on the sand and moved her finger in a come hither motion. He succumbed, plopping down right next to her. Right away he leaned on his side to watch her.

"Do you think it was the universe that put us together or was it fate?" she asked silently, her eyes hooked to the stars beginning to form in the sky.

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No. I mean like...do you think we were meant to be together before we were born. Like we were already planned to be soulmates? Or was it just some kind of fate that I moved her and you met me patrolling that night?" she asked, reaching over to take his hand.

"Hmmm…" he began, thinking to himself. It was a hell of a good question. Alex Romero was not a religious man, though his mother always tried to instill heavy Catholicism in him. It never stuck. He didn't believe in creators, nor did he believe in set soulmates. "I think it was fate. And a great bout of luck as well."

She smiled ear to ear, making his heart beat one hundred times faster, "Luck?"

"Oh yeah," he returned her happy expression, "Lots of it."

With that, he kissed her again. Their tongues were swapping in the most glorious way. It all felt so different because now they were bound and so official. Their intimacy almost felt better now that they were married, it felt right, more traditional.

He gently slid atop of her and framed her face with his hands while taking time to really observe every inch of her perfect pale skin, tragically beautiful blue eyes, and what seemed to be the pouty lips of an innocent vixen. "You're gorgeous," he whispered.

She tugged his head back down and deeped their kisses, flipping them on the sand so she was on top of him, totally in control which she loved. Her fingers slowly draped up the hem of her dress until it was around her waist, her legs and crux free of constriction.

"I missed you," she whimpered, gyrating her hips right on his belt buckle to give him a sign of what she wanted.

"Jesus," he rasped, looking at her flushed, aroused face. His free hand reached forward to her panty line, his fingers reaching below the band and dipping straight down to please her most sensitive area. Her clit. he'd been so oblivious for months, they hadn't fucked in a long time and he was dying to rekindle their passion. "I missed you too, baby."

His fingers slowly rotated around in a circular motion as he watched her pleasured expression get more and more into it. "You're so sexy," he groaned as he felt her hips start to buck against his hand's delicate motion.

Her moans increased, a mixture of excitement for the way she was about to be taken and being touched after not having sex for so long, as her nimble fingers reached down to undo his belt buckle and tug him out. _Already rock solid_, she thought as she gently lowered herself on top.

He groaned immediately, his back arching on the sand as he felt her wet warmth engulf every inch of his thick member. His head dipped back as she started to bounce her hips in a beautiful rhythm up and down. "Oh god, Norma…" he moaned, half his attention locked on her movements, the other on the pleasure already building in his lower abdomen.

"Mm honey," she groaned, her nails digging through the fabric of his shirt, "I've wanted this for so long." Her words grew more breathy as the force of her body moving around him intensified. She couldn't deny that she was fucking him hard, mostly because she was desperate for his body, something she hadn't given any attention to in months.

His groans grew louder and louder as his straining cock adjusted to the rhythm of her tightness gliding so rapidly around and around. He could barely breath once he felt her go a mile a second, her body was a beautiful temple he considered himself so damn lucky to penetrate.

He held onto her hips for dear life as her breath hitched. She was working her body out in the most delightful way as she felt herself already coming to an end, "Jesus, Alex…" she dragged on, her breath ragged as all hell, "I'm gonna cum," her hands only gripped harder onto his skin as she finally let go. It was fantastic, the best she had had or done in a while.

Her hips kept bucking against his as she awaited his finish, "Alex, cum for me," she begged, needy and hot, spent after accommodating him in such swift motions for so long. The moment she felt him lean up, she knew he was ready.

"Oh-oh fuck," he groaned, finally releasing whilst pressing his flushed face into her chest, wrapping his arms around her simultaneously. It was good. It was fucking amazing to be completely honest. He never knew Norma would be capable of being so powerful in bed.

"God, that was fantastic," he sighed, pulling her down to rest on his chest, he'd never been so sated. Never in his entire life.

She giggled, her breath still coming back to her fully, "I'm happy you enjoyed that. We should wait more often."

"For you? I could never wait."

_**Thank you for reading and I'll be back for the next chapter as soon as I can conjure something up. Love you all - MJ XOXO**_


	65. Under the Weather

**Our fam is back, everyone! Last night's episode was so good and I really loved the ending with that odd little proposal, fun to see Normero back in business as well as the motel. Also, I don't write Dylemma but I think they are so cute together &amp; can't wait to see where that relationship goes. Shoutout to all you Dylemma shippers out there, I know you guys put a shit ton of time into your fics and they all come out really good. Anyway, this is just a short little chapter to celebrate last night. Enjoy and keep your heads up, guys. I have something cool coming. Leave me a review if you liked this chapter and tell me what you thought and where you may want this to go - MJ123 :)**

Once the newlyweds were back to normal routine and settled at home, Norma started coughing. She was upset because she and Alex were supposed to go on their honeymoon later in the week as it took them some planning. Again, much like their ceremony, it wasn't going to be anything special, just a few nights at a bed and breakfast. It was still going to be a lovely getaway but now she felt something coming on.

All she was doing was lying in bed that day and Alex started to show some seriously wonderful signs of being a new husband. He took the day off of work to help her around the house, cooking and cleaning wise. Now he was lying in bed with her.

"So, you think this is something run of the mill or maybe some kind of bronchitis?" He asked, his voice so serious it made Norma smile though she felt like utter shit.

She leaned over to grab the tea cup, green her favorite and the type Alex was so kind to make after needing 15 minutes of instruction, "Are we switching your title to Doctor Romero now? Because I'm not sure if I like it very much."

He grinned and shook his head, "Still sharp. Sick as a dog but still extremely sharp. I am no doctor, trust me. I'm just trying to get a feel for your symptoms."

"Well," she began, stopping to blow her nose and toss the tissue in the free wastebasket besides her, the kind with lotion on them, she wasn't crazy about them but it was all the late night drug store had to offer, "I just-my throat hurts, I'm stuffy and I'm sure you can hear it in my voice, my head hurts, and I'm just really tired. Plus there's a lot of congestion."

He rose from the bed and started to walk from the room when Norma calling for him stopped his pace, "Where are you going?"

"Calling Dr. Rosewood. Best in White Pine Bay, she will see you soon and give you something great that will help you sleep and make all of your symptoms go away," he said, pulling out his phone.

She shook her head, "No, no Alex. I'm fine. I don't need a doctor. I am a tough girl and I will do this the normal way. I'm gonna fight it out."

"You're not gonna fight it out, Norma. I want you to see a doctor."

"I don't like the doctor, I'll be fine, really. I'll just sip on some tea and-"

He broke her speech with a loud sigh, "I'm not going to take no for an answer on this one, babe. I'm calling the doctor and you're gonna go either later today or early tomorrow morning."

"Your not gonna let this one go, are you?"

It was her giving up an argument tone of voice which Alex now grew to love, mostly because it meant she was starting to accept his word more, which naturally meant she was gonna start trusting her more, the thing he'd always craved from her.

"No," he said simply, walking over to her and placing a hand on her forehead. "Your hot. Not warm, your like boiling."

"Oh come on, Alex. It's normal to be hot when you're feverish. Plus, you shouldn't be touching me, you're gonna catch my cold," she laughed, swatting his hand away from her. "It's contagious."

He leaned down to look at her, "Oh yeah? Let's test out your theory.." he began, kissing her lips the way he always did.

She was quick to push him away and slap his chest lightly, "You jackass! Now, you're gonna get sick and we'll both be laid up in here."

"I'm a cop," he said simply, running a hand through his thick hair, "I have a very tough immune system."

"Yeah," she snorted, "I'm a motel owner and my immune system is jack shit."

"And you can make it better by trusting your husband when he tells you to go to the doctor when you're feeling under the weather," he said, calling the doctor and booking her the quickest appointment possible.

"Well?" She asked, a cough following the question.

"Get dressed," he answered, "I'm taking you."

She did as he asked and stood, about to change into the shabbiest outfit she could muster up, "That was pretty fast."

"Well, I am the Sheriff of White Pine. You need a doctor's appointment, a restaurant reservation, or a hell of a good parking space and I'm your man," he laughed, knowing what a douchebag he sounded like in the moment.

She laughed at that, slipping on some of the nicest sweatpants in her dresser, "Asshole."

"You love it," he said simply, pulling his hoodie from the closet and letting her wear it.

"I do."

**Come back for more and leave me a review if you liked this short little chapter! - MJ XOXO**


	66. Doctor Knows Best

**IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER/QUESTION/SURPRISE: **

**Do you guys wanna see me through Instagram and actually get to know me? I've been private and using a pseudonym for the past three years and I'd love to reveal my identity to all of you wonderful people. If you wanna know my Instagram name, tell me in the reviews and I'll leave it at the top of my next chapter. Also let me know how you liked this. As always, thank you for reading and let me know how you feel about my little "reveal" offer - "MJ123" :) **

They were at the doctor's office and Alex simply refused to leave Norma's side. She assured him that it was only a checkup but he insisted every step of the way. Was it nice having someone there that cared so much about her? Yes, of course. But did it get a little exasperating having to deal with someone who treated her like a child? Completely.

Waiting for the doctor was taking some time, Norma observed Alex as he sat and flipped through some gossip magazine. "Alex?"

"Mm…?" he hummed, eyeing the pictures of the young celebrities he could not name that were getting DUIs and shit said about them by older people.

"You seriously didn't have to come inside with me."

He scoffed and dropped the magazine, "I'm looking out for you. How do we know this doctor isn't some creep off the streets?"

"Some creep off of the street? Alex, you were the one that told me this doctor did the best work in all of White Pine Bay. Why would you have suspicion?" She asked, now beginning to get nervous herself.

"I said Dr. Rosewood does the best. She's not here today. And she's the only doctor I'd ever trust with anything, okay? The woman has been checking me out since I was a little kid, she's always been my pediatrician," he explained, there was always something nostalgic about her office and she was always the nicest woman to him. Maybe he was going overboard about the "creep" fear but things were different back in the day regarding doctors. People were turning to shit, it was the modern world after all.

"How sweet," she snorted, "You've never been to another doctor, really?"

"Nope. Except my dentist. He's a pretty good guy. I don't know...I just love Dr. Rosewood and I wanted you to see her today. I guess Monday's are the only day she takes off," he said, propping himself up as the doctor stepped in the room. A middle aged man with glasses and a brown combover. Nothing like he was expecting.

"Norma Romero," he said simply, looking over her paperwork. "What seems to be the problem?"

She fiddled with the hospital gown as he waited, "Well, I'm coughing a lot, I have a ton of congestion, and a sore throat. I've also been pretty tired lately. This one over here," she paused a moment to motion to Alex, "Thinks it's some kind of bronchitis but we didn't wanna play the guessing game so that's why I'm here."

"Well alright, I suppose we should check you out."

**X**

"Should I get blue or red Gatorade?"

Norma held up the bottles and examined both flavor names. It was around noon, they had just gotten to the convenience store. The doctor claimed he would have some kind of medication available after they looked at her blood samples and throat swabs, until then he advised her to grab some fluids and run of the mill items at the store.

"I'm not sure. Never really liked it. But, I would suggest the fruit punch, sounds the most tasty," Alex was holding a whole bunch of things in his basket, cherry flavored cough drops, tissues with no lotion, and some Vicks vapor rub. He could've ran a small pharmacy from the looks of it, but he never liked to play it safe with sick people.

"Okay," she threw it in the cart and kept walking the aisles aimlessly, looking back to him after a few minutes once she realized that they had everything they needed, "I wanna go back home and try to get some sleep for a little while."

He nodded and told her to go wait in the car as he checked out.

$55.87 later, Alex was ready to head out as well. She was already asleep by the time he got to the car. He could consider it a blessing because she hadn't done so well with sleeping but it made his job harder, because now he had to be the one to wake her from what looked like a blissful nap.

Upon arriving back to the motel, he shut the car off and went over to the passenger side, lifting her up which jolted her awake.

"Alex," she sighed, "I'm sorry. I totally didn't mean to fall asleep that fast."

"It's fine, babe. I'm gonna take you upstairs and let you nap some more. I hated waking you but I wasn't gonna let you sleep in the discomfort of my SUV. You would've woken up with a bunch of kinks in your neck and back, believe me I've fallen asleep in there on a stakeout once...I paid the price the next morning," as he explained all of this, he walked them up the steps to her home and opened the door.

"I have stuff to do today," she grumbled lightly as he walked her to the bedroom.

He shook his head and laid her on the bed. "No, no, no. I'm gonna get all of the stuff out of the car and set it up here. Then I'm gonna head downstairs and make you some kind of sick food while I finish cleaning the living room. I will let you sleep as long as you wanna."

"You're the best," she smiled, as she let her head hit the pillow.

"Get some sleep, I'll be back up to check on you later."

**X**

Somehow, someway, Alex managed to find the items to make chicken soup. Was he shocked? Not really. One of the best things about the Bates home was that there was always a mirage of comfort food and comfort food ingredients residing in the refrigerator. Rotisserie chicken, broth, celery, carrots, and even some oyster crackers in the cabinet, he was feeling good about his findings.

As the soup simmered and he sorted through all of Norma's sick items, the phone rang. He placed the stuff in a paper bag and set it aside while he answered the vintage home phone, it reminded him of the one his mother bought them when he was younger. He'd never seen anything so ancient anywhere else.

"Hello?" He asked, wiping his hands on the towel hanging out of his pocket, there was still some grease residue from the chicken sitting on his fingertips. Wasn't the most pleasant feeling in the world, almost felt like lubricant.

"Hi, this is Dr. Rosewood, I'm calling for Norma Romero."

"Oh, hey Dr. Rosewood. This is Alex speaking," he smiled.

She let out a chuckle on the other end, "My gosh! Nice to speak to you again Alex. I heard you called my office today and I got so excited. It sure has been a long time. How'd everything go? Dr. Porter is a new hire of mine and I trust he took good care of your wife?"

"Yes, yes, he did fine. Said he would have a prescription ready later today, is that why you're calling?"

"Well, yes. Your wife seems to have strep throat. Not the most fun illness to be laid up with but it certainly beats the heck out of bronchitis or mononucleosis, I'll tell you that much," she laughed.

He smiled as he remembered the amount of doctor humor she would force on him as a kid, always cheesy but always someone uplifting, "That's not good. Is the prescription available now?"

"Yes, she must take it twice a day and especially right before bed. We made absolutely sure not to prescribe anything with Naproxen, Ibuprofen, or Chlorpheniramine, those are 100% off limits during pregnancy," she said, looking over her papers.

Alex stopped everything and went completely silent, "Pregnancy? I think you have something wrong there."

"Dr Porter took a blood test from your wife today. The results confirmed pregnancy."

**Enough said. Let me know how you all feel - MJ XOXO **


	67. Shocking Revelations

**Follow me on Instagram: **

**Sydney_Rosebud **

**Yes, that is my real name. To all my readers, I would like to say hello. A real hello. Marie Johnson is simply my pseudonym. So...nice to meet you all, my name is Sydney :) Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think in the reviews should I be lucky enough to receive any - "MJ123" **

Alex's world was shut down once Dr. Rosewood delivered the news.

"So...you're absolutely sure about this? You're not joking here?" He asked, hoping internally that this was just more of her medical humor.

"Um," she began, sounding uncomfortable with the sway of the conversation, "Yes. She is pregnant. We can't be sure of how far along, not until she comes in for an ultrasound. You two didn't know about this?"

"No, no," he sighed, "We had no idea. I'm sure she'll be shocked. I sure as hell am."

"Well, I hate that I had to be the one to break the news to you, Alex. I wish she could've been the one to tell you, I wish she knew. But it's up to you, if you wanna tell her soon," she explained.

"Yeah, I'll be sure too. I don't really have a choice here, do I?"

"Not necessarily," she laughed, trying to add humor to the seemingly darkened mood but Alex wasn't going to budge.

"I need to go. I'm gonna go- I'm gonna go tell her," he said nervously, the mood had changed entirely and in his mind, he felt scared shitless.

"Well, congrat-"

He hung up before she could finish the word. Norma was still sleeping for sure. He took the opportunity to sit at the kitchen table as his soup simmered and poured himself a tall glass of scotch.

_Pregnant._

Norma really was pregnant. There was gonna be a baby in there lives sooner than he could actually take time to picture it. He was so frightened. All of this brought him back to Callie. How he was robbed of a child and a wife in the past. What hurt the most was that he tried his hardest to make sure they were both always secure. He would've bubble wrapped Callie if he could have. But that car crash was the worst thing to ever happen to him. Now it was all like deja vu, Norma was his lovely wife and now she was expecting. They already lived under dangerous circumstances as it was, there was a lot of fright that came along with a baby coming into their lives.

He drank and wondered how Norma was going to take the news. She would probably be excited out of her damned mind to have another kid. He couldn't see past the fear coursing through the sectors of his brain. Easily and understandably enough, he really believed something would happen to the baby. And to Norma.

This was always a fear of his. He never really wanted anyone after his wife and child were taken away from him but then Norma came into the picture. He couldn't deny his feelings for her, she was beautiful and stubborn and smart and caring. All the qualities he would dream of having in a partner even as a boy. It was simple to get down on one knee and propose to her but a baby...that was a different story.

He was so scared and he didn't know what to do with himself. This was one thing he refused to tell Norma. He was in no way, shape, or form going to tell his wife that there was a fetus inside of her. This was something she needed to find out on her own, the normal way. Either with a home pregnancy test or suspicion or another doctor's visit. And he would act...surprised? Overjoyed? Yes. Because anything else would make her upset. She'd think he wasn't happy and she'd think it was a mistake.

He refused to take her joy away. He just wouldn't show much enthusiasm. He'd be there, of course he would be there but not to the crazy extent that most soon to be fathers are. Bottom line, Alex was deeply, deeply in love with his wife but not the idea of having a child. Not now. It wasn't supposed to happen. But now that the egg was fertilized, there really was no going back.

**X**

Later on, Norma woke up from her deep slumber. It was quite the blissful sleep, considering she had lost all touch with it because of her flu. She wasn't sure where it had come from as she hadn't even had any of her medicine yet. Once she rose out of bed, it became apparent how groggy her body felt.

Yes, the nap was nice but the feeling that was washing over her, not so much. It was like the uncomfortable ache someone felt when sleeping too long. Rinsing her face with cool water was a good healer as she got ready to head downstairs to Alex. At the moment she needed some form of human interaction to pull her out of the sleepy state she was stuck in. She wanted to be woken up.

Upon entering the kitchen, she was smacked in the face with the potent scent of chicken soup. Alex was sitting at the table with the scotch bottle in front of him, he wasn't drunk but he looked hazy.

"Baby," she sniffled, looking at the glass, "Why are you drinking that?"

"Hmm? Oh ya know, I just wanted to unwind a bit," he slurred with a tiny smile overlooking her. _Pregnant_. He kept thinking about it the more he took the familiarities of her in. _She was pregnant_. And there was some kind of life forming inside of her just as they sat there speaking.

"Okay," she said simply, walking over to the soup and pouring herself a bowl. She moved to sit at the table with him. "I really really appreciate you taking such amazing care of me. And this soup looks delicious. I don't know how you made it.

"Mm...this and that. It all came together and I was like whaaa...couldn't believe it actually looks real," he said, staring into the bowl with wonder. Maybe he should've became a chef? Or a real doctor? Or gigolo? Oh hell, rethinking career choices at this juncture would certainly not heal what was going on at the moment. He was going to be a father. Something he could never truly believe seeing in himself.

"Well it's really good," she said, taking some more of it in. The food felt good as she was nicely rested and actually very hungry. She still couldn't get over the fact that he could cook, this was something she never would've suspected about him.

"Good."

"So, that prescription? Is it ready at the pharmacy yet?" She asked, anxious for medicine. The sleep was nice but she'd really enjoy kicking this cough and congestion to the side for good. Hopefully this shit would be strong enough to aid her symptoms within the next two days. She couldn't very well run a motel and take care of two boys and a husband while suffering, now could she?

Truthfully, he couldn't remember what the doctor said on the phone. All he heard was pregnant. Anything said about a prescription was completely and utterly irrelevant to the situation at hand yet she still had no idea.

"Um...no, no babe. No meds yet. We'll check back in the AM," he said, it was something drunken and on the spot to just get her to agree.

"Okay honey," she agreed, "I think I'm just gonna try and sleep it off a bit more than. Did the doctor call while I was sleeping?"

He was going to feel like the worst person and shittiest husband alive but it was going to happen, she couldn't know, not yet. He was going to lie to her, something he never vowed to do. Internally, he was whipping himself for the answer that was already forming on the tip of his tongue. Though he couldn't erase the baby from her insides, he sure as hell was going to pretend it wasn't there. That was the best coping mechanism he could think of.

"No. There were no phone calls while you were sleeping."

**Hope you all enjoyed this. I will be back soon with more. Follow me on Instagram if you have an account and please leave me a review if you'd all be so kind. I'd love to know your opinions on my choices! - "MJ" XOXO**


	68. Contemplations

**Hey everyone! Thank you a million for sticking around through my mini hiatuses. I have a lot of school to catch up on as my graduation grows near. I just got into college and am now floating on air about that. Yet, this excitement about reaching adulthood leaves me with so little time for writing. However, I would never leave you all hanging and I am happy to present the next chapter. Thank you all for sticking with this story and I hope you enjoy this. Leave me a review and let me know your thoughts. Thanks - Sydney :) **

Pregnant was the one word that still hung over Alex's head for the next two weeks. Two weeks he went without telling Norma, two weeks he spent watching her go about normal tasks without a second thought, two weeks he sat guilty for everything that was happening. His anxiety was rising up and up and over again every single second he kept her condition a secret. Not his proudest moment as a man but what was he going to do? He still didn't wanna pretend to be happy. He couldn't pretend to be happy over something that caused him great and genuine fear.

Norma hadn't suspected a thing about herself and that's what drove Alex to the absolute brink of insanity. In some twisted way, he felt mad at her for not being able to piece it together. He also felt paranoid that she knew but wasn't going to tell him because internally she knew that he was keeping it a secret. He silently and foolishly wondered if she was gonna wait until she was bulging and ready to deliver to say or suspect anything.

As for interaction, things were normal. Alex was the caring husband who would do anything, even go out of his way to please her and make her happy. Norma was the seemingly content wife who would, on rampant occasion, have doubts about their situation but in the end suck it up and learn to be happy with her loyal mate. They hadn't been fighting and their union was still in the sweet honeymoon phase which only made Alex feel guiltier.

Once Norma finally got over her illness, offerings of sex became more and more frequent. It was on nights that Alex came home early and she had not yet fallen asleep, wanting to reward him for being such a good man and making her so happy. Those were the worst. This night was different however, he could feel the tension in the room, so thick one could poke at it with a surgical knife.

He left the station early with a bottle of scotch ready and raring to go for the hour block he had after Norma fell asleep and before he was too tired to drift off with her. Then he entered the bedroom and those plans were squashed at the very seams of origin. A binding leather teddy and handcuffs strapped tightly around the wrists. That was how he found her ready to go on their bed. Eyes full of want, mouth plump, and breathing still steady.

"Anytime you're ready, Sheriff," she purred, plopping down on her stomach, waiting for him to tease at her skirt or simply shove it up to her lower back and plow her straight from behind. She'd been waiting for weeks. It had to be now or else matters would just have to be taken into her own lonely hands.

The way she fell onto her belly, the way the leather most likely chained her skin up, those cuffs pinching her veins. None of it was going to be a good outcome for their impending child. He needed to make her stop and veer away from sex before the baby was put into any harm. Though he really didn't want it, he certainly wasn't going to let harm come to it's way.

"Norma," he began, walking over to the bed and lifting her gently from the position she was in, "Please, not tonight." His words were left hanging as he searched around the room for the keys to her cuffs, they were on the bedside table and eventually he got her hands free. "And, take that off. It certainly can't be comfortable for you."

"Okay," she huffed, smacking her hands to her thighs, and re-plopping down to the bed, this time perching on her bottom. "Are you screwing someone else? Please, just tell me know and I'll give you five minutes to collect your shit and leave. Just tell me her name before you go, okay?"

The eeriest thing about it was that her tone was simple, she wasn't mad or sad about it. This seemed to be like something she'd been suspecting for a bit. Alex sat next to her and took both hands into his own, "I'm not seeing anyone else, Norma. I've just been really tired, okay? This town fires new cases at me everyday and I have no choice but to stay late night at the office and pull them apart. I'm sorry, I just haven't been alert enough to make love to you the way you deserve."

She narrowed her eyes at him and broke away, "You can't expect me to belive that can you? You walk in here night after night and turn me down for sex any time I offer, anytime I wear little get ups like this to get you going. We haven't done anything in two and a half weeks now. You haven't even been touching or kissing me for fucks sake! Do you not love me any more, Alex?"

Those words pierced through him like little knives to the heart. She was everything, he was more in love with her than ever before just not the situation they were in. Whenever she wanted sex the only thing in his mind was their baby, hurting it or scarring it in any way. It couldn't be normal to have sex with your pregnant wife, right? He didn't wanna risk something like that. Not to mention, he didn't deserve a reward like that, not after lying to her about the baby. He wasn't going to tell her, but he would try to smooth it over the best way he knew how. So he gathered her hand in his and kissed her cheek.

"Listen to me, please. I love you more than anything else in the world, okay? I've just been tired. None of this has anything to do with you or our sex life. I'm sorry if it seems I've been turning you down, I just want time to relax after everything work has been shoving down my throat. I promise you, Norma, this has nothing to do with you, okay?"

She sighed and clutched his hand tighter, "Okay, alright? I don't actually think there is anyone else. I just know something is wrong, I have that sense as your wife. You haven't been eating well, I notice you wake up at weird times during the night, and you seem very distant from me, honey. I'm worried about you. I don't know what's wrong and I can't help you if you won't talk to me," she explained, her concern laced throughout the tone of her explanation. If anything, sitting him down and talking about what had been ailing him meant more than the sexual issue.

It pained him to lie, even when she had that much concern for him. He'd never seen her be more sincere towards him in the time they'd know each other, besides their wedding vows that is. "I'm alright, it's just work stuff, okay?" he answered, feeling like shit for lying, essentially digging himself a deeper grave for guilt and despair. Everything she was saying was true, he had been acting different in all departments, and it was all because of the news regarding the baby. He was scared shitless to be a father, nervous for the day she'd find out on her own, and anticipating to see the results of being a mediocre dad to their child. Unless…

Unless he could convince her to give the baby up for adoption...or maybe the other alternative. Abortion. The thought permeated his mind with grand resilience. Did he want to tell his wife to have an abortion, to kill the little life they had created? No, of course not. But he knew he couldn't handle it. He couldn't handle a baby yet. Never. Not after the first flop that happened. They weren't even in a good environment to have a child, not with the instability Norman held or with the shady characters that stepped in and out of their lives.

Norma nodded and rose from the bed, "I'm gonna go and take a shower. I'd ask to join but," she broke to sigh, "I already know what you'd say."

With that, she left the room and as he collapsed back on the bed all he heard was shower jets. Adoption, abortion, denial, divorce. These were the only thoughts popping in and out of his mind on repeat as he stared up at the ceiling.

What was he gonna do?

**Thank you for reading and I hope to have something crafted for all of you soon! - XOXO **


	69. Conclusions

"**Pack your bags" **

"**Okay...where are we going?" **

**Enjoy - Sydney XO **

The next morning, once Alex left for work Norma was left to sit in bed. She wondered if work was really the issue that was tugging at her husband. Really, she wanted to believe his words but she couldn't say she did. He'd never acted so distant towards her, ever, not since they first met and at that time of course they weren't dating, they were nowhere near the prospect of union. It was odd, considering where they were now, married and fairly happy.

Silently, she wondered if this, him constantly turning her away when it came to sex, stemmed from some kind of...impotence? Had he been unable to perform and that was why he kept turning her down? Out of pure embarrassment? That had to be right, right? Yes. Of course they made pills for that though. But Alex being the stubborn guy he was would most definitely never ever stoop so low to call a doctor and ask for erection pills. Not his style, not at all.

In Norma's mind, the quickly pieced together plan was simple. She would just happen to have some kind of prescribed Viagra in her medicine cabinet from a previous relationship, Sam maybe? And she would just offer it to him and maybe with some luck and lots of convincing, he would agree and they could get back into normal routine with their sexual life. The only issue was going to the doctor to get some kind of male enhancement prescription.

Thinking of it now, she could always just call Dr. Rosewood, Alex had been going to see him since he was little, right? Would it be so weird to trust in her with this issue? She threw on her robe and went downstairs, pacing to the kitchen phone and looking to the scribe pad for her number. She remembered that Alex had it jotted down for emergency, in case Norma was ill and needed someone to call as she didn't have many medical trustees in White Pine Bay.

Once she found it and dialed, she waited. Was this the proper thing to do? No, but if it would help mend what was becoming of their relationship, then it was worth it 100%. She couldn't stand to see Alex so miserable, internally she believed that once they were back in the saddle of their great sexual relationship, things would slowly fall back on track.

"Hello, Dr. Rosewood's office," her voice was light and sweet, such a friendly woman, she was happy Alex convinced her to go visit.

"Hi, Dr. Rosewood. This is Norma Romero, Alex's wife."

"Oh! Yes! How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, eagerly excited to follow her on the journey to motherhood, she loved being a maternity doctor much more than a pediatrician but sometimes those two worlds had to combine. Typically, the mothers who let her take care of them during pregnancy would allow her to take care of their children later on.

"I'm fine. Those meds you prescribed a few weeks ago worked really well. Actually they kicked that flu within two or three days."

"Good, good. Happy to hear. And how has the pregnancy been so far, mama?" she joked, a smile breaking over her face, "I know it's still early but I like to keep track, especially for you bec-"

"I'm sorry," she laughed, crossing an arm over her waist, "You must have the wrong information. I am not pregnant, there's no way I could get pregnant. I'm not sure where you got that idea."

Her stomach dropped, Alex hadn't told her. She knew him all his life and was extremely disappointed in him. Not only was this embarrassing for her, but it was gonna be painful for Norma to hear.

"Alright honey...a few weeks ago when I called Alex about your prescription, I told him I looked through your urine and blood samples, and I did. Your results confirmed that you were well...expecting. I told Alex to tell you, dear. But um, I guess that plan fell through."

Norma was speechless. She couldn't believe that she was pregnant. She really didn't think that it was possible. "Well- I uh, are you sure about it? Like 100% sure that I'm pregnant?" she asked, nimble fingers clinging onto the telephone cord like a lifeline.

"Yes. Of course, I mean these results are always accurate, there is no way this could be false. You should come in and see me as soon as you can so I can do some kind of ultrasound, see how far along you are, give you prenatal vitamins. You...you want this baby, right?"

Without a second thought she answered, "Yes. Yes I want the baby, I'd never even think of doing that. Nor would I place it up for adoption. I'm lucky this could even happen at my age. And you're saying Alex knew?"

"I told him two weeks ago, sweetheart," she answered, her voice almost as upset as Norma felt.

She lacked words once again, upset towards Alex. The fact that he didn't tell her meant something, he wasn't happy about this, he was likely regretting telling her about the baby. "Okay, well...I'm gonna let you go. And um, I'll call you back tomorrow morning, okay? To set up an appointment and everything."

"Okay, hun. If you have any problems or if something doesn't feel right, please don't hesitate to call me. There will always be someone here to take your call. Good luck with Alex," she said, her voice returning to it's sweet nature.

"Thanks, Dr. Rosewood."

With that, she hung up the phone and planned something devious.

**XXX**

All she needed was an empty whiskey bottle and some warm water. If Alex wasn't gonna tell her she was pregnant, she was going to force the truth out of him. She was angry. Pissed actually. Why he wouldn't tell her was obvious. But they were married, they were supposed to talk to each other about everything. It was in their vows for Christ's sake.

When she heard his SUV pull up into her driveway, she sat at the kitchen table and took out a shot glass, pouring some of the mock whiskey inside and getting ready for the show. The glass rose firmly in her hand as she listened to his footsteps take over the linoleum tiles of the kitchen floor. She started sipping accordingly as he watched her with big eyes.

"Norma!" he yelled, dropping all of his work gear and walking over to her, snatching the glass out of her nimble hand. He poured the rest of the glass down the drain and moved the bottle to rest on the counter top.

"What the hell was that for?" she asked, immediately playing dumb.

It struck him, he knew he couldn't bring up her pregnancy. He hoped she hadn't been drinking for long. "Um...I was saving that bottle of whiskey for tomorrow night. I'm going on a stakeout and I have a tradition of sipping on a little something to keep me awake and alert."

"Sure. But is that why you don't want me drinking, Alex?" she stood from the table and drew closer to him, eyes completely darting him down.

He sighed, looking down to the floor to break eye contact, "What are you talking about, Norma? I told you I was saving the bottle."

She shook her head, "I already now, Alex. There's nothing to hide anymore."

There was a pause, but she broke it to lift up her sweater and turn to the side, "Look. There's no bump yet...there will be soon though. We can't go back. So if you don't want this, tell me right now," her voice was sadder than anything, as her eyes were trained on his face.

Still silence.

"Why didn't you tell me?" hushed, almost silent but her voice was still awake, wanting something out of him other than a shrug of the shoulders. Her bare stomach was still on display as she spoke to him.

With extreme hesitation, he reached out a hand and placed it on the layer of skin, "I'm sorry," he whispered. He fell to the floor then, on his knees, hugging her belly to his cheek as he swayed her hips bit by bit.

"I'm so sorry, baby."

**Leave me a review and tell me what you thought. Tonight's episode had me in tears, never have I seen anything so beautiful on television before in my life … Thank you for reading :) **


	70. Compromise

**Hey everyone. So, given the fact that I've been working on this story for roughly two years now, I don't wanna end it any time soon. I have some pretty good ideas for where to take this and I want everyone to bear with me. I promise that you'll get some good chapters, many of them will be short because I really don't like going over 2,000 words in one chapter, I feel like that's overkill especially because updates will become more and more frequent. I hope all of you enjoy the pregnancy route as I'm afraid I've lost a lot of you for making that choice. Tell me if you enjoy this chapter or let me know if I've lost your interest as readers. Thank you - "MJ123" **

After a long while, they sat at the kitchen table together, across from each other as if the whole ordeal was some kind of formal business meeting. Norma was the first to break any form of silence as her husband still seemed stuck in the shame he felt for keeping the baby a secret.

"You can't say that you're surprised here," she said, her tone slightly bitter, honest. She refused to show him sympathy when he lied to her about something so big. It killed her to know that he was still capable of keeping secrets even with vows locked down. She was always fairly honest with him now, it was a major double standard.

"Mm," he grumbled softly, perching up in his chair, "Actually, I can. As a forty year old man, I can say that I'm pretty shocked that we're expecting. I mean...c'mon Norma, did you really think that we we're gonna get pregnant?"

His tone upset her quite a bit, who was he to get angry with her about this situation? "It wasn't on my mind, no. But I never heard you complain one bit when it came to sex without birth control. Aren't you supposed to have condoms handy whenever we-"

"Don't even start with that, Norma. We are both to blame there, okay? I don't see you popping a little pink pill every morning to keep pregnancy out of the picture. How could you blame this on me?" he asked, his tone sharper than intended. Though he didn't really wanna fight with her, she was pushing him, and Alex hated it when she pushed him on certain things. It brought him back to when they first met and she was an overbearing pain in the ass. He was madly in love with her now, but regarding the topic at hand, she was being bitchy. Silently, he wondered if this was hormones already coming out to attack him.

She scoffed and shook her head, "I'm not blaming you. I'm saying that if you were this protective over preventing pregnancy, then you would've cared and took more initiative when it came to things like condoms or pulling out."

"And with that statement, are you saying that you didn't care about preventing pregnancy?"

"I wouldn't care if I was pregnant or if I wasn't pregnant. But here we are and I am pregnant and I'm trying to get excited about it. You're here and practically making it impossible for me to enjoy this. I know it's still early and everything but he or she is gonna be here before we know it," she added, thinking about how quickly the time during pregnancy goes by. The fastest nine months are always the one's spent expecting.

He sighed and stood from the table, "So you're just making the decision here? This baby _is_ gonna be here, right? No other options besides what you want?" the words flew bitterly from his mouth as he gripped the side of the table. No way he would be ready for this baby, not even close.

"Other options, huh?" she asked, standing as well to face him, "You want me to abort it? Get rid of it and pretend it never existed and just move on, happily married to you? I would never ever fucking do that, not to my child!"

"No one said the word abortion, Norma! I'm a cop! I know plenty of families around here that would love to have a baby to adopt!" he shouted, not giving any care in the world about how loud he was being.

"You want me to give our child up for adoption? Send it off to someone else though we are perfectly capable of taking care of it here?" she asked, her eyes on the verge of tears.

"Norma," he began, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing, "I just don't think we-"

"Answer the goddamn question straight up. Do you wanna give our child up for adoption?" she asked, her voice dark with intent though her face read something totally different.

"If that's what's best".

She shook her head, "I knew it, I knew you weren't the perfect man for me. So why don't you just get the fuck out of here, leave me and your child in the dust while you go off and live a life with no responsibilities. Leave me if you don't want this baby because I don't want to raise another child in an unhappy situation."

"I'd never leave you, Norma. I promise, okay? I'm just not ready. I'm not ready to be a father and I'm not ready to take care of a two people, keeping you both content and happy…" he trailed off, he wished he could tell her more, he wished he felt more confident in there love to tell her the darkest reasons behind why he didn't want to keep their baby.

"I don't wanna stay with you if you don't wanna help me raise our baby, I just want to be happy."

"I know, I know that. I wanna make you happy, I'm just not ready for a baby," he repeated, hoping that she would understand and agree to some kind of alternative.

"Do this for me," she began, seeming to calm down a bit, "Stay with me throughout this pregnancy, okay? See where we are and how you feel in about eight months and if you're not happy, you can leave. If you're okay with the way things are, then you can stay here with me and your baby and we can all be a happy family."

It was an ultimatum. Something Alex gave to the people he arrested. The more he thought about her offer, the sadder he was. It was an agreement to think things over and see where it left them. He wanted to be with Norma more than anything else on the Earth but he couldn't handle the thought of being a father.

"Alright. I'll take you up on that. I'll do whatever you need, whenever you need it because I'm yours and I promised to take care of you in our vows."

"Sounds like we have a good deal here," she said, walking away from him casually after a few moments.

"That we do."

**Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! **


	71. A Joyful Viewing

**Hey guys! I have something big coming for this chapter, so enjoy it. Leave me a review and let me know what you thought and if you have suggestions, I'd be more than happy to take them. Thank you so much for reading and I love you all - MJ123 :) **

The morning had risen and for once the loving couple slept apart. On the left side, Norma found slumber in an ironic fetal position, completely untouched or spooned by Alex who slept at least four inches from her, his hands to himself. It was silent torture but due to the circumstances, they didn't see how spooning could fit into the equation. She missed his touch and wished his arms would link around her body and the "I love you's" would simply be entangled in his silent breath.

Non-shockingly, the two awoke at about the same time. This time however, Norma didn't scurry down to the kitchen to bust out coffee and breakfast, instead she lay on her back and stare up at the ceiling thinking about the baby. Was there really a tiny molecule forming in the middle of her stomach? She couldn't feel much yet but knew the symptoms were yet to come. Dylan and Norman both gave her the same exact signs, the morning sickness, fatigue, and of course constant food cravings...those were always inevitable.

When Alex woke and stiffened next to her, she was the first to make conversation as it was completely clear that he was ready to check out. Was she planning on ending their marriage? No. Absolutely not. But if he wasn't ready to accept her condition, there was simply no room for him. It was hard because she loved him, he was the only guy that really showed her the two things she'd always wanted the most, affection and respect.

"Did you wanna come with me to the first doctors appointment today or did you just wanna pretend nothing is happening to me at all?" she asked, her tone cold and bitter. She wished he would be happy or at least pretend for a little while, just for her sake.

He sighed, already angry at her constant nagging about his unseemly grievances, "Yeah. I'll be there. I'm not gonna avoid it the whole time, y'know. I obviously want to make sure that you are healthy throughout your pregnancy."

"Really? Because you suggested last night that I should get an abortion," she said, throwing the sheets off of her body and standing angrily from the bed.

"I never once said anything about abortion," he groaned, growing sick of her using the word. He walked to her, his eyes trying to hit a more loving standpoint, "Look, I really want you to get that out of your head, alright? I'd never tell my wife to get an abortion. Adoption however...I will not deny that I mentioned it."

"Well, you lucked out there because to me that's horrible. When two parents are completely capable of raising their baby financially and physically, there is no reason to give it up in any matter. Believe me, I think adoption is a beautiful and selfless thing to do...just not when a parent is capable. We are capable, Alex. We can raise this baby," she said, moving away to grab her robe.

He didn't respond, just watched her move about the bedroom, fixing her hair and doing some light makeup. He sat on the edge of the bed and poked through his work to do list that he had written out on the notes via his phone. Silently, every now and then, he would watch her do something else to get ready. Sitting perched on her vanity chair, she poked at the loose curls of her hair and turned towards him.

"We need to leave to make the appointment in about 20 minutes so I suggest you throw on some clothes and get ready."

XXX

The doctors office smelt sterile, like overly clean and sanitized for Alex's liking. The best part about this appointment was that he got to see Dr. Rosewood, the one woman that had taken care of him ever since he was a little boy, she'd been the one to handle everything from knee scrapes to prostate exams. Really, the woman knew him in and out.

He couldn't believe that now he was seeing her with his pregnant wife, it felt like time flew by and now he was a completely grown man. When they were sitting and waiting for her name to get called, he dropped a hand to her shoulder to get her attention as she was flipping through some magazine about home and gardening.

"Did Dr. Rosewood say that she would be your doctor?" he asked, his voice a whisper as he observed all the other people in the maternity office. They all seemed to be at different stages in pregnancy, one woman would be a bulging nine months, another around five months with a sweet small bump, and then there were women like Norma, just starting out with a flat stomach and a nervous demeanor.

"Yeah," she began, setting her magazine down and replacing it with her purse on her lap, "Over the phone when she told me the news. Basically she said that she would be with me the entire pregnancy and to keep her updated on anything and everything that happens, good and bad stuff."

"Such a sweet woman. She's so giving to her patients and she would drop anything if there was something wrong. I'm really happy that she's your baby doctor."

"Does it really make a difference to you?" she scoffed, eyes trained ahead, not wanting to fight with him but the cruel comments and cold words couldn't help but escape her lips. Her heart was tugging in different directions, on one end was Alex and his feelings towards her pregnancy and on the other was the thought of getting to be a mother again.

Just when he was about to say something back to her, the receptionist called her name and off they went. The office itself was layered with pictures of pregnant stomachs, the stencils on the wall portraying ducks parading after one another, and of course the pain was either a tone of blue or pink. It wasn't much longer before Dr. Rosewood actually stepped out to see them.

She smiled once she saw Norma for the first time, "Wow," she began in awe, reaching out to shake her hand, "Alex, you found yourself quite the bride, here. She is absolutely beautiful. You're beaming, sweetie."

Norma blushed and grasped her hand to hold it for a few seconds, "Thank you. I am really happy that my husband could set me up with such amazing care, I feel like you're gonna be the perfect doctor for me and well...my son or daughter."

"I'm honored to get the opportunity," she agreed. "What we are going to do today is find out exactly how far along you are, what the baby is looking like, and then I'm going to prescribe you with some prenatal vitamins. By the time you leave here, you should have your first ultrasound image and a nice little perscription. But before we began, I'm gonna ask you a few questions, okay?"

She nodded and rested on the padded patient bed.

"Have you experienced any nausea or vomiting so far at all?"

"No. I haven't gotten sick once and I've been feeling the same. Appetite has not changed one bit and I haven't felt any difference."

"Any common symptoms of pregnancy that you can tell me about?"

"Well...I had some light spotting a few days ago but I thought that was just an unusually light menstrual cycle. My breasts have been super sensitive lately, I also just attributed that to some kind of PMS."

She looked up from the clipboard and nodded, "That's typically something that happens in the beginning. You should expect a little more spotting throughout your pregnancy and the tenderness in areola is extremely common amongst women in the early stages of expecting. Please be aware of all of the symptoms you may face, okay?"

Norma agreed and the doctor placed the clipboard down, now glancing back and forth between she and Alex. "I'm gonna put the questions on hold here. I'm guessing you two wanna glance at the baby so far, right?"

"Yes. I'd be lying to you if I were to say that I wasn't anxious to see," Norma smiled, putting a hand behind her head and lying back.

"Alex?" Dr. Rosewood asked, "Are you ready to see the ultrasound too?"

"Oh yeah, yes. I'm uh- I'm excited too," he said, feeling Norma's eyes burn a hole through the side of his head. He moved over in his waiting chair to be closer to Norma and the ultrasound machine.

"Okay," she shut the lights off then and grabbed the gel, "This gel is gonna be pretty cold."

The doctor switched on the little machine and lifted up Norma's shirt to spread the gel around with the transducer probe. Soon enough, there was a little tiny heartbeat, it filled up the doctor's office with what sounded like rhythmic drumbeats.

"That's the heartbeat of your baby!" Dr. Rosewood announced excitedly.

Norma grinned in return, beaming with the joy of being able to hear some sign of human life, "Already?" she asked, staring at the screen to find the baby.

"Mhm, such a good rate too. About 132 overall! That's a strong, healthy little beat. And if you look," she began, pointing to the long medium sized oval taking up the middle of the screen, "That is the fetus so far."

"Oh my…" Norma trailed off, looking at it, she couldn't believe how small it was. Seeing the beginnings of a baby made her so excited to be expecting again, whether Alex was happy or not.

As he looked at the little shape, he couldn't help but feel relieved. It looked to be okay so far, nothing mutated or injured. And from the sounds of the heartbeat, it seemed to be doing good. He was a little calmer about where they stood now but still wasn't sure what would or could happen down the road. He was so apprehensive of the things that could occur to harm the safety of his child.

"If I were you, I'd start referring to this one a peanut.," Dr. Rosewood joked, turning her attention back to the expectant parents. "Seems to be that you are about 6 weeks along."

Nothing could break the joy Norma felt, she was very happy that the baby was looking healthy. The only thing she still had to work on was Alex, with a little convincing and a few nudges in the soon to be daddy direction, there was still some hope within her that he would become the father that she knew he was capable of being.

And hopefully, their baby would be blessed with good parents and a happy home.

**Thank you for reading and I hoped you all enjoyed. Leave me a review and let me know - "MJ" XOXO**


	72. Announcements

**Hey everyone! Enjoy this next installment and leave me a little something something in the reviews to let me know how you liked this. Also, very big shoutout and thank you to MysticalForces! She's been sweet enough to share her words of praise with me through the messages and I'm very flattered for the compliments. If you haven't checked out her Normero story, A Sky Full of Lighters...please do, you won't regret it! Anyway, enjoy! - MJ123 :) **

On the ride home from the ultrasound, Norma held the little copy of the sonogram clasped in the palm of her hand, she couldn't stop from looking at it. Despite the distaste she was feeling for her husband because of their situation, she couldn't stop smiling. There was a little peanut slowly growing into a human being in the pit of her stomach. Were the baby butterflies slowly coming alive already? She felt the pit pat of gentle wings brush against the inner walls of her stomach and she knew she was pregnant. She could feel it.

As her thumb pad brushed over the image of the baby, Alex was staring ahead at the road trying to get home and, at the same time, piece together his feelings about the ultrasound. It was a beautiful thing to see the baby coming to life, yes. But fear still remained, he felt so bad because he really believed that Norma wouldn't understand. It hurt to have to explain but he knew it had to come sometime. Before he could say anything, she was the one to break the silence.

"I texted Emma and Dylan," she began, slipping the sonogram safely away in her purse, "Told them to meet us at the house, they were up in Portland earlier today. I want all of us together when we do this."

He felt his heart beat rich in the pit of his chest as he tore his eyes off the road gently to eye her from his peripheral vision, "Do this? Do what? What are we doing, Norma?"

She looked back at him like he was the stupidest man in the world, like he should've known exactly what she was talking about when she brought it up, "The weather. We are going to sit both of my children and Emma down to tell them all about how we are expecting a light rainfall around noontime."

"Don't smartass me," he said gruffly, twisting the wheel in his hands to ease around the curve of the upcoming bending road. The motel was coming closer and she was getting on his last nerve.

"The baby, Alex. We are going to tell them about the baby. How I'm already six weeks along and I didn't know for a while. We could open it with something hilarious and tell them how you knew before me," she offered, her voice oozing in sarcasm

"So, you've just made this decision now? We aren't gonna agree on a time to tell them because you already planned the whole thing out on your own time? You know this is my kid as well, right?" he asked, pulling up into the gravely parking lot and shutting the engine off.

"Yeah, Alex. I know it's your's too. You're sure as hell not acting like it, though. And until you do, I am going to be the one making the hard choices and decisions here," she said, unbuckling and leaning to get out of the car before her husband lightly clutched onto her arm.

"Wait," he said, pulling the keys out of the ignition, "We can't go in there fighting. We are in a rough patch right now, no doubt. But if we go in there and bring tension with us, they are gonna think this was some stupid mistake. That how you wanna look at our kid?"

"Absolutely not. Never. But that's how you see it. A complete and utter mistake," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

His eyes locked down to the ground before looking into her blue pools of acceptance, "Hey. It'd be a mistake and a regret if I was expecting with a woman I didn't really know and wasn't really in love with. I'm in love with you. I am. I'm still coming around to the surprise is all."

She nodded, "There's more to the story, isn't there?"

"Yeah."

"Wanna talk about it now?"

He shook his head and took her hand in his own, walking them towards the stairs of the house. She just kept her lips sealed and followed in his lead. Silently, she was trying to piece together what everyone would say about the news. Dylan wouldn't give a shit, Emma would be thrilled, Norman...well, Norman would need some time? Time to get around to the idea of his mother having another little one, yeah that sounded right.

They entered the house and upon Norma's request, everyone was seated in the living room talking casually. Dylan and Emma were holding hands on the couch talking to a seemingly reserved Norman about a movie they had gone to see and how epic it was. They all halted conversation once the two paced into the living room and stood before everyone.

"Hello everybody," Norma smiled, interlacing Alex's hands with her own tighter. Deep down she really was nervous about the reveal, she was sweating bullets. She really wished she'd had a practice round with Alex and told him but that opportunity was already shattered.

"Mother," Norman began speaking, "Why have you called us all here? Is something the matter? Does this concern Steven again? Because I thought that he was in jai-"

"No, sweetheart. This has nothing to do with Steven and there is nothing wrong with me, with either of us," she began feeling her heart start to pound and her palm start to sweat profusely. "But I have some big news for everyone."

Emma motioned for her to continue, "What's up, Norma?"

"Well um…" she wanted to say it but couldn't fish the words out of her brain. Slowly, Alex gripped her hand a little to hurry up her momentum, "I'm uh- I'm kind of … I'm pregnant."

Dylan's eyes went wide as he slowly stood from the couch to hug his mother, "Hey, that's wonderful, mom. Congratulations. And um," he slowed to pull away and look at Alex, "Congrats to you too, man."

He smiled and shook his son in law's hand, "Thanks, Dylan. It came as a pretty big surprise, we didn't see it coming at all."

Emma popped up next, holding the most spirit of them all, "Yay! Norma! Sheriff Romero! Are you two excited about this?"

Norma nodded, "Yes. I am absolutely elated. I mean, I get to be a mommy again, I never really thought that would happen. I am so, so, so excited. And I'm already about six weeks along, too."

Alex responded to what she said with a small motion to agree, "We are both super excited. I've never got to be a parent before so I'm pretty thrilled. I'm ready to see what it's like."

All the while, Norman sat on the sofa, no words but clenched fists. Marriage and rings to show it was one thing, but a baby was permanent. Now she would have no time for him and the things he needed from her, he hated the fact that she was pregnant, hated that there was gonna be another distraction avaliable for her to play with while he sat neglected from her love. He stood and went to his room immediately, not able to stand the happiness being passed around the room.

When Norma saw her son walk up the stairs, she didn't chase after him. For once, she let him go. All she could think about was the baby and the happiness and support she was getting from her eldest and his girlfriend. She really didn't want anymore negativity around her baby or herself, it was already bad enough that Alex was fighting to get away.

X

Upon her son and Emma leaving, Norma sat on the couch with her hand resting on a flat tummy. She wished the bump would hurry up and arrive, then she'd have something to hold onto throughout the nine months to come. That was her favorite part of pregnancy, the belly. It was the most beautiful thing in the world really, to be able to feel a little life kicking from the inside.

As she thought, Alex came to sit next to her.

"I've been thinking," he began, reaching over to take her hand and rest it amongst his own.

"Oh you have?" she asked, turning to look at him, "About what?"

"Honeymooning."

She scoffed, "You wanna get away now? With me in my disgusting condition?"

"Stop it. I never said you were disgusting. But I wanna take you away somewhere for a few days."

"And the reason for that would be…?"

"Because I love you," he said playing with her fingers, "I love you and we never got to get away. I wanna have time to talk to you about this. The future, what is gonna happen from here on out."

"Is it gonna be bad?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice almost frightened. Frightened sprinkled with baby shards of anger.

"Trust me."

**Thank you for reading and please leave me a review if you have a chance - MJ XO**


	73. Mystery Uncovered

**Hello all, I am broken by Bates. She's gone guys. Really, Norma Louise Romero is officially dead. It's a heartbreak and a shame as she was quite the character. My own life has hit a rough patch lately and that's why I haven't been updating at all. I felt so bad for leaving you guys in the dust as I know some have been writing reviews begging me to come back. I haven't gone anywhere, it's just been a rough couple of weeks. I'm graduating soon and I'm very excited but I will miss a few certain people and I'm finding it very hard to say goodbye. I apologize for my absence and I am still grieving the loss of our fictional TV mother as I'm sure you all are. This will be short, please forgive me. Enjoy but don't feel obligated to write me any reviews. I don't really deserve them because of my unannounced hiatus. - MJ123 /3**

He took her into Portland for their getaway. Luckily, Alex was able to find a quaint bed and breakfast near the beach for a cheap price and a decent amount of days to vacate. Two days, that's what the woman offered him on the phone with the same price, he didn't have to pay for the full 48 hours rather one day. Sweetly, she claimed it was a good offer for honeymooners. He accepted it and moved on with his plans.

On the way to the hotel, Norma was resting her head to the passenger's window and glancing at Alex as he drove. She was still anxious, worried, and upset about his feelings towards the baby but there was nothing she could do. If the man wasn't happy, he simply wasn't happy and that was the end of the story.

"Why are we going on a trip, Alex? I mean … it's obvious that you're not happy right now. Mm? Why would you wanna spend two days with just me when you're upset?"

He let out a brief sigh but kept his eyes on the road as he spoke to her, "I'm not upset at you. I'm not upset at the situation, okay? What happened has already been established. I can't repeat that enough to you, Norma. Frankly, I'm getting sick of repeating it."

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm a little hostile towards you when you are looking at our child like a burden. They are gonna be our's for life, this isn't something that can be washed away. And it hurts me so, so much that you're like this right now," she said, rolling down her window to let some breeze into the cab. Her fingers danced along the side of his car as she thought about the baby. Though Alex wasn't thrilled, she was. This was a real miracle as she was told and believed that she could never get pregnant again.

"I'm not gonna talk about this until we get there. I don't feel right about discussing this while we are on our way. Let's just have a nice drive up and relax for a bit okay?" he asked, looking over to her face, she looked glorious basking in the sunlight.

"Fine."

**X**

Upon putting their bags down, Norma and Alex collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He was exhausted from driving, she was tired from just being on the road all that time. They both agreed to save the festivities for the next day and relax with the time they had.

Norma rolled over onto her side and stared into the gentle warm eyes of her husband, "Will you tell me what's going on with you regarding our baby now? Please?"

"Norma, c'mon…" he sighed, his hands coming up to rub at sleep depriven eyes. "I really don't want to discuss this right now. I mean we just got off the road and-"

"Alex, you've been promising to tell me why for a while now. I think at this point I deserve some kind of explanation as to what's been happening. I really want to know why you feel this way. If it was me or something I did. Do you not wanna be a dad? Are you afraid of the responsibility?" she asked, letting a hand extended and rub his chest a bit.

He finally broke the barrier and took her hand, toying with his fingers. He did this as a mechanism to calm himself down, her hands were extremely calming to him for some reason. It was like her skin held the secret to all peace. "I'm afraid, Norma."

It was a simple reason. He was scared, she'd heard it dozens of times from her first husband, John. He was 16 and frightened to be a dad. Though it wasn't even his, she made him believe it. There were times when he would break down crying because of stress regarding how he was even going to care for a baby and the plain fear that he wouldn't be a good father because of his age. She dumped that right back on Alex, "Are you afraid because you think you won't be good at it?"

He shook his head. "No, I feel like I'll make a decent parent. I'm afraid of what's gonna happen to you," he breathed, the air coming out shaky and unsure. She'd been watching his pupils the entire time, he really did look scared. She'd never seen Alex scared of anything before.

"What do you mean? I'm fine. The doctor said I'm perfectly healthy and that the baby seems to be on a very good track right now. It's like you're predicting-"

He cut her off quick, "I'm not predicting anything. I'm just afraid that something is gonna happen to you and our baby. I've had something a pregnant wife before, Norma. I was thrilled and you know what happened? They both died before even getting a chance to live a good life. I'm just- Norma, I'm so-" he rubbed the bridge of his nose, not wanting to get overemotional.

"Hey, hey, hey," she said, reaching up to brush her fingertips against his cheek. "I get it, okay? I'm sorry. I forgot about that and I never thought to attribute that to this situation. But I promise you that nothing is gonna happen to us. We're safe with you…"

"I thought Callie and the baby would be safe with me too and look at what happened," he sighed, avoiding meeting his wife's tender blue eyes.

She leaned up to kiss his head and whisper into his skin, "It's okay, alright? Don't talk like that. These are different circumstances. I'm never alone while you're at work. I'll always have Dylan, Emma, and Norman. Katie said she'd visit on weekends and odd nights where no one is around to help. I'll never be alone during this pregnancy. We'll be a safe and happy little family, I promise you."

He relished in her kiss and as she spoke, there were a thousand bricks lifted from his burly shoulders. "Do you promise you'll never be alone? I don't want you to be alone on odd nights were I can't be there to take care of you."

"I'll work it out with my kids. Don't worry about it, Alex. I want you to enjoy this pregnancy too. You're gonna be a daddy. We're gonna have a family. Won't you like that? All of us. Happy, put together and stable?" she said, her voice no louder than a whisper as she let her fingers rub the base of his neck.

He moved his head so it rested near her stomach, as his hand reached up to rest slightly above her belly button. "I'll love it."

"I love you," she whispered, placing her hand on top of his as they moved their palms around various parts of her stomach slowly.

"I love you too. I love you both."

**Not my best work but something to show you all that I'm gonna keep writing. I'll never abandon this story. I don't abandon the things I'm passionate about, please believe me. Love you all and I hope you enjoyed this. Goodnight XO - MJ **


	74. Sexual Healing

**New chapter! Hope you all like this and get a few chuckles. I threw this in as a fun little addition to the story. Please leave me a review and tell me the things you'd like to see while she develops. I'd love to get the creative juices flowing with the feedback of those of you who are still reading. Thank you and enjoy! - MJ :) **

The next morning, Norma woke up to an early sunrise. She looked over to Alex, so peaceful while he slept. It'd been a long while since she'd seen him so at ease. The life of a cop, at least as she observed, was never easy and highly stressful. To see him resting so easily was a lovely sight. However, a thought couldn't help but float to her mind as she watched him looking so handsome at peace. Intimacy. They hadn't had sex since…well, since their baby's conception. With her being sick and them being tense towards one another for the past few weeks, there was no time for sex.

Slowly, she rolled on top of his muscular body. Her own skin a bit muggy from the heat of the hotel room, her cotton nightie sticking to her back as she began to grind gently on his thigh. Her hands sat on his bare chest as she let some soft groans escape her lips. This baby was making her hormonal, in _every _aspect. Hell, she was close just from grinding, they hadn't even engaged in intimacy yet.

Alex became more aware of the weight on his leg and looked up to see his wife gently panting above him. She looked in the midst of an orgasm when he woke up, he could feel her wet spot growing on the center of her panties. But before she could let go or engage him fully, he grabbed her shoulders gently and shook his head.

"Norma, stop," he exclaimed, half sitting up to try and move out from under her weight.

She let out another hazy moan of pleasure, her eyes closed, "It feels so good," she groaned, bucking her hips harshly against his leg. Her fingers were clutching the pillow as she felt release coming closer.

His hands moved down to her hips to stop them, "I'm serious, stop it." The tone of his voice was sharp, almost mean. Instantly, he began to feel bad with the way he reacted to her.

She obeyed him. Her grinding came to an immediate halt as she rolled back to her side, almost ashamed of what she was doing. Then, her eyes emitted teardrops. She put her head in her hands as she let herself cry.

"You-" she hiccupped, sobbs intensifying as her body shook, "You're an asshole."

Alex was taken aback by the tears. They pained him yet for some reason they didn't make sense. Horny and then sad? Now seemingly angry? He didn't get it. His hand extended and rested at her back. She moved away from him and kept crying.

"Aw honey, I'm sorry…" he began, even though he didn't really know why he was apologizing. She didn't move though, just kept sitting at the other side of the bed sobbing her eyes out. "Come here, Norma."

"No! You suck," she gasped through the fit, her getting worked up wasn't helping anything.

Alex moved to her and encased her in a hug. She fought to get out of it but he refused to let her go. His lips moved to cover her forehead in light kisses. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

It took a moment before she finally caved into his chest and sniffled, wiping her tears from under her eyes, "Why'd you force me off of you? I'm your wife and I wanted to make love…"

He giggled a little at that, wrapping an arm tight around her shoulders, "Looked more like you wanted a little session alone to please yourself."

She slapped his chest and let her eyes dart up to him, "That's not funny. I wanted to engage you and you shoved me off."

"Yeah well...I don't feel right," he said simply, pupils tracing the line of fabric in their comforter. He couldn't meet her eyes right now, they were still all red and puffy. It made him feel horrible to think he got her so upset.

"Are you not attracted to me anymore, is that it?" she asked, curling up, her heart began to sink at the thought. She couldn't handle it if Alex wasn't happy anymore, not with everything going on. She didn't have it in her to be a single mother at her age, she knew it'd happen if Alex wasn't happy with her anymore. These thoughts made her so emotional and upset, it killed her to think of him leaving her.

"Shhh," he silenced her question before it could even resonate, "I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on. You're perfect. But that's not it...I um- I don't wanna have sex with you because of-"

"The baby?" she finished, her eyes still glaring with utter disappointment. He didn't have to tell her because she could already sense it. "Do you find me unattractive now that I'm pregnant? I mean, I'm barely showing, so I'm not fat-"

"No. It's not because of that. I just don't wanna hurt the baby. Y'know? Like I don't wanna-" he stopped himself and thought out his words before he said them, "What if one day we get a little too into it and I'm too rough with you and I hurt you and I ruin something?"

She laughed, laughed until her stomach ached as a matter of fact. Her arm reached out to take his hand as she crouched over with a fit of giggles, "Alex, that doesn't happen. Our baby is protected and cushioned in my belly, okay? The only time it's gonna get hazardous in our bedroom is when he or she drops."

His head shot up at the word, "Drops? What do you mean?"

Her grin grew greatly as she kissed his fingers, "When a woman drops, it can be a little uncomfortable. There's a lot of pressure. It means that the baby will come closer to my cervix which is incredibly uncomfortable for my….lady parts. But you don't have to fret over that. Not until like...my last week of pregnancy."

"Still," he sighed, "I don't feel comfortable. I feel like our baby knows what we're doing and I don't wanna freak the kid out, y'know? I'm scared that we'll scar our son or daughter before it even has a chance to experience life."

She laughed again, her hand moving to rest on her flat stomach, "Don't you worry. They don't know what we're doing. For all our baby knows, we could be wrestling. It's not like they can see through my belly."

"Okay. Fair point but what if they are sleeping in there and we wake them up? I want the baby to be well rested while it's y'know...chilling in the womb," he said, his tone serious and his face even more convincing.

Norma moved closer and kissed his cheek, "You're just so sweet. No, the baby will be okay. No more what if's out of you. I'm tired of you second guessing all of this. We can be a normal couple like always. And we can enjoy all of the aspects of being married...like really good sex."

"I promise you, I'll try to come around to it. Just don't pressure me, alright? I'm still new to all of this with you. I don't know how to act and I don't know right from wrong when handling pregnancy," he admitted, his hand clasping in hers.

"It's okay, Alex. I love you and I know you only want the best. Even though him or her is still only a fetus, I appreciate you being so considerate."

He kissed her and pulled her back for the pillows. Sex would have to wait until he was comfortable with her. Being a dad was going to be a long, scary ride. But like most things, with a bit of practice, he'd be the best he could be at it. The journey was going to be long and maybe a bit scary but he was overall excited.

Once he learned to get a handle on Norma's little outbursts, he'd be just fine.

He just needed practice.

**Thanks for reading and please leave me a review with your thoughts! - MJ XOXO**


	75. Utmost Importance

Hello, everyone. This is MJ123.

I am sad to tell you all that it's been a struggle to continue this story. I feel like most, if not all of my readers have abandoned this story for a new very popular story that just got published a few short months ago. (I will not say the title not author because I am sure you all know what I am referring to...)

The other day I got a review that made my whole day horrible and ruined me a bit inside:

"Is this the end?"

It was written so nonchalantly it seemed as though you guys find this story drab and boring now. It's so shitty to see how someone can get a load of reviews that I had to work my ass off for 3 years to get.

I wouldn't say I'm jealous. I'm just a little upset here. If you guys are done reading this story/supporting it, just let me know and I won't put anymore of my time into it. I love this story to death but if it's not gonna get attention to keep it going then I'll stop.

I've written to please you guys since day one. I wish I could get reviews like the other story gets...paragraphs of praise and actual suggestions. I'm sad just writing this note to all of you...

Please, if you're all done here, let me know, guys. I live for this story but if no one wants it anymore let me know because I'm tired of feeling second best to this newer story.

Thanks - MJ :/


	76. For APrivateTrap

**I'm going to continue. I may be sad right now and not in the best place but the comment I received tonight made me feel a little better, so...thank you, APrivateTrap. Sending all the love I can your way :) - MJ123 XO**

They were perched up in bed. Norma leaning on Alex's shoulder as his fingers lathered gently over her flat belly. He was amazed that even though her skin was still at the same sight as a grassy plain, there was still something being built inside. Soon, her stomach would budge with the sight and homecoming of their baby.

"What do you want?" he asked, one free hand reaching up to sleep idly in her curls. Her hair was always so soft, it was the scent of the garden his mother planted when he was a kid. Every scent on her reminded him of home and comfort.

She looked up at him, confused, "Mm? What do you mean?"

"Our baby. What do you want?" he repeated, this time taking advantage of her perched up forehead and kissing the skin softly, swiftly.

"Anything that's healthy," she laughed, her hand falling to his, "I just want the baby to be healthy and grow up happy with us as its parents. That's what I've always wanted for my kids, y'know? And know that I'm with you...I can have that."

He grinned, affectionate towards her for the appreciation. Alex was beyond thrilled that she felt safe and comfortable. "Thank you. I wanna be a good dad and all. To whatever gender it is."

"You're gonna be fantastic at this. I promise, this kid is going to be so loved by us," she chuckled, "And if you want the truth...I really am praying for something."

"And what's that?" he questioned, prayer standing out the most. He didn't know she was religious. His mother was, and she always tried to instill that in him. Norma was the one sign that their was a god and he did want the best for him.

"A little girl. I know I said I don't care much but...I have two boys. And I love them with all my heart, I really do. But I can't help but want a girl," she smiled, it almost looked like she was already set up for disappointment. Like she expected a boy.

Alex's hand dropped from her hair to her shoulder. "Maybe that's what we'll get then," his voice was a sweet whisper, her lips perked up a bit at the tone of it.

"That'd be okay with you? If I really wanted to have a girl?" she asked, sounding shocked, like she assumed that he would get upset.

"Of course, baby. What? Do you think because I'm a guy I want a son?" he laughed, thinking about it. At this point, Alex wasn't gonna get picky. He didn't care. If it was a girl, that'd be fantastic and with a boy he'd feel the same way.

"Well yeah. I mean, you're a tough guy. A cop and everything...I figured you'd want a boy so you could teach it how to be like you," she said, eyes grazing the side of his clean shaven face.

He shook his head, "Nope. Wouldn't mind either way. Besides, if it's a girl, I could still teach her the ways of a cop. How to be tough. I want her to be a warrior or a superhero, you know what I mean?"

"I wouldn't want her to get hurt," she said, hands already grabbing at her belly as if that could stop time and prevent her from learning to stand up for herself. The world was a scary place, and whatever gender their child was, it would learn how to fight against all evil things.

"She wouldn't. Anything that would come in her way...especially a boy, I'd kick his ass," he said, tugging his wife a little closer.

"Oh," she gasped humorously, "Not even here yet and her daddy's already prepared to hurt boys who hurt her. Are you gonna be one of those shotgun dads?"

He tugged back a bit, "Explain."

"Like...y'know, those dads who threaten to shoot any boy that comes in the way of their daughter. I mean, I'd be fine with it. I just think our little girl will be a heartbreaker and those are a lot of bodies to bury."

"You're cute," he said, hoping that she wouldn't be so promiscuous around teen boys or girls...the world was a new place. "And how do you know she won't like girls?"

She nodded, "You're right. She'd be totally accepted by me if she liked girls. Id love her the same no matter how she's born."

"Me too, I just want her to always feel loved and secure. I don't want her to ever think that we won't love her or that our adoration for her will ever die down," he added, dropping his nose to her head and taking an inhale.

"God, look at us," she scoffed, "Already mapping out a future for this baby and it's not even born yet. We don't even know if it's a girl."

"Now you got my hopes up," he grinned.

**X**

Next door, Norman could hear every word. The oohs and ahs about their "precious baby" and the thing wasn't even born yet. He knew from right now, right where he was standing he'd never get a good night sleep in the blasted house again. Always a baby wailing or his

beloved mother rocking her bed with the Sheriff.

Everyone was so thrilled about this stupid baby. His brother already tried convincing him it was a good and exciting thing and that it was "great to see Norma happy about something again". He wanted to gag on a brick. And Emma was 10 times worse, giggling and hoping that she'd be able to help baby sit the nasty mistake.

Norman had his fill already, he wanted his mother to abort it or miscarry or something so he'd never have to hear of the idea again. He was the one who deserved all of her love anyway. They were the two with the chord between their hearts, right? That's what they both promised one another.

And this mother kept bringing useless people into their lives, Alex, George, Katie, Steven, and now she was having a little shit of her own. Norman knew he'd be forced to love the abdominal little creature and treat it as his own sibling. In reality, he'd rather chew his own arm off then make it feel welcomed and involved in he and his mothers world. Even though that was now shattered.

He felt sick whenever he thought of his mothers departure from him for some other guy. They'd never get their relationship back unless he got rid of...

Yes. Perfect. Get rid of the Sheriff and their baby. Then he'd get it all. A torn up, depressed mother who'd need all the love she could get from her beloved son Norman. It was the best scheme he'd ever thought up. Slowly, he started to believe that this was what was for the best.

He and his mother all the time. Norman got out a booklet and planned their demises. How he would do it, when, and of course how he'd cover all of it up.

Surely enough, things would return back to the way they were originally. Just he and his beloved mother. That was all.

\- **Thanks everyone, for staying with me. MJ **


	77. Cub Kicking From Within

_**Yes, I am a piece of shit for not giving you guys anything to read for the past couple of months. I've been in college! I'm in a program right now for incoming freshman and I've been working my ass off to come into college with a good GPA. Hope you are all proud and not upset I haven't been active lately, I apologize. But please stay with me and enjoy this chapter. I'll be back with something more soon. Please leave me feedback and let me know how you all feel about this current chapter. Love you all to the moon and back XOXO - MJ123 **_

_**2 Months Along**_

That night, Norma awoke to a small puddle of blood. She was wearing a white nightgown and needed to pee desperately in the middle of the night, as pregnant women typically did. And she felt liquid between her legs. Blood. Once her thin pale fingers reached down, there was a small stain on them. It was a rosey red, something that didn't look good. Immediately, she lost it. Her eyes stung with tears as she began crying softly, her hand clasped over her mouth. She couldn't let Alex see or know. Without a second thought, she stood from the bed, placing a pillow over the small pool and paced to the bathroom, cell phone tight in hand.

Once arrived, she put the phone on the sink, sat on the toilet seat and waited. She wasn't sure if it would all just fall out gradually or if she had to go to a hospital, either way Alex wasn't going to hear about it until she knew what was going on. A miscarriage. Another one, at that. She wasn't ready to lose this baby, she couldn't let another one go. It was around 2:17 am when Norma broke down to call Dr. Rosewood's cell phone. Being so close with Alex, she was sure to give her every piece of contact information possible, like a form of special treatment. Her personal number being on Norma's phone, in a time like this was a blessing in a time of terror.

The first time Norma called, there was no pickup. That didn't surprise her, the woman was old and it was 2 am and most normal people would be sleeping. This was an emergency though, she could feel it, so she grew more persistent and finally on the 6th call, she answered. And Norma stayed seated on the toilet, in case the hemorrhaging continued.

"Norma," her voice was incredibly groggy, "Is everything alright?"

She couldn't help but shake with tears, her sobs audible and light, she was trying to hitch them back so Alex didn't hear from the other room. Her forehead rested in her hand as the phone perched to her ear, she took a deep breath and finally answered, "I'm having a miscarriage," she sobbed, not looking down into the bowl, it was a fear as to what was in there.

She could hear the springs in Doctor Rosewoods mattress squeak loudly as she must have popped up in the bed with shock. "Oh no, oh...Norma, honey. Are you 100% sure? Hold on…" she could hear faint rumbling in the background and what sounded like frantic searching through papers, "I'm gonna go through a checklist, alright sweetheart?"

"Mhm," she cried, her breathing still out of control and her body still freezing cold with anxiety, she was shaking and goosebumps coated every part of her body as she held herself and listened to the doctor all at once, it was too much. All she could think about was Alex and how devastated he would be. He certainly couldn't lose another one. She had a miscarriage before, yet she was very young and she blocked all of that out.

"Okay honey, here we go. I need you to breath, alright?" she began, "Any pain in the abdomen, lower back, or pelvis?"

"No," she answered, shaking on the seat as she grew more and more afraid of looking down.

"Do you have any thyroid or diabetic disease to date?"

"No...Dr. Rosewood, I'm scared. I'm so scared right now," she cried, her forehead pressing into her hand.

"Norma, does Alex know what's going on right now?" she asked, almost frightened to know the answer.

"I can't tell him, I can't," she sniffled heavily as she realized how badly her body was shaking, "No."

"Well then, what do you propose to day, honey?" she asked, half sympathetic, half rational, "I'm gonna have to get you checked out as soon as possible. You need to go to the hospital and someone has to drive you to look after you. So, as much as you don't want to right now, you're going to have to tell your husband."

She slammed the phone down on the bathroom tile, knowing that the doctor was likely frightened. She scratched her nails into the hair on her head and called out, "Alex!"

For a beat there was nothing, she let out a silent scream under her breath as she gain enough gusto to call him with more force, "ALEX!" there it was, at the top of her lungs. And pretty soon, there he was. He barged into the bathroom half awake and somehow fully alert to her.

He looked at her, wondering what was going on, "What's going on, Norma?" he asked, his voice as groggy as ever. Immediately, she regretted all of this. She hated that she called Dr. Rosewood and told her about what was going on and she wished that her baby would want to stay inside.

**X**

They were sitting in the emergency room. Norma cradled up uncomfortably in the couch, wrapped in Alex's gray hoodie and a bundle of pads coating the lining of her underwear. Her fingers were in her mouth, teeth chipping away at her thumb nail. He sat with his head in his hands, sighing about the situation. It was the shittest place he'd been in a long time.

"Why didn't you tell me when you woke up bleeding?" he asked, looking at her from the corner of his eye. He had been dismayed when she told him in the bathroom. He practically carried her everywhere once she rose from the toilet seat.

"I was scared. I didn't want you to be mad at me…" she trailed off, her face blank as her pupils stuck like glue to the green linoleum hospital floors.

He scoffed, "As if any of this is your fault," he lightly reached across to hold her hand as they waited. He trailed the tips of his fingers down her pale, cold skin.

"I'm still scared," she whispered, looking at him with a pair of watery eyes.

Alex leaned over to gather her up as best he could by kissing her head and swaying her gently, "I know baby. I am too. I'm sorry we have to go through this right now."

She let herself cry into his arms for a little while. The doctor came soon after, stepping out in his pristine lab coat and sturdy clipboard.

"Mrs. Romero, we'll see you now."

**X**

Norma laid in the bed, her legs spread apart by the stirrups. Alex stared at everything, she wasn't surprised, he was a guy who'd never seen a pelvic exam before. He clung to her hand still, regardless and prayed silently that his wife would be okay.

For what seemed like an eternity, the doctor poked and prodded at her with speculum, he was seeing if anything was abnormal. He removed the metal device, causing her to tense down a bit as she waited for him to speak.

Alex was eager, "What's the story?" he asked sadly, gripping Norma's hand.

She slowly scooted up to pay attention, "Did the fetus leave my body already or will you have to do some kind of dilation and curettage?"

"Actually," he began, flipping the paper from his clipboard down after making a few marks, "This will come as good news for the both of you. Mrs. Romero, your cervix isn't opening at all. Matter of fact, there was no tissue or blood in the opening."

"Does that mean I'm still pregnant?" she asked, eyes wide with hope and disbelief.

"From what I can see now, yes. I believe that you just had some first trimester implantation bleeding. This happens a lot. I can't tell you how many mothers come in with these types of scares," he said, locking eyes with both of them.

Alex smiled a bit as he moved to the side of the bed again to give his wife a hug. "I'm so happy you two are okay," he whispered against her hair.

"Me too," she said, kissing the side of his head, "I was so scared when I woke up to that."

"Our family is okay?" Alex asked, only slightly pulling away from Norma's grasp. He was looking at the doctor with hopeful eyes and a hint of a smile.

"Your family will be okay."

_**Good to update. I hope you all get to read this and enjoy it (:**_


	78. Expectations

_**Hey everyone! Hope you are all still reading because I plan to keep writing, just in smaller increments. I can't promise an update every week but I can say that this story and something else I'm working on that I will not publish for a little bit, is always on my mind. As long as my readers stick with me, I'll be here. Here's the new update and I hope all of you enjoy it. Thanks to all who have been there since the beginning. I really don't know what I would do without all of you - MJ123 :) **_

_**3 ½ Months Along**_

"So...does giving birth hurt?" Alex asked, sitting on the couch. Norma lay lazily across his lap, her fingers gently her miniature bump. She laughed at the question, shooting up a bit with a harsh smile.

"What the hell kind of question is that?" her tone was that of a joke even though she was a tad annoyed at the question. It was only an imbecile who would ask that type of question.

He shrugged, "I don't know. I'm just curious I guess. I wanna prepare myself for what is gonna happen when the baby comes."

Norma crossed her legs and folded her hands, looking at him with a short grin, "Well Alex, a woman's cervix is only about 2 centimeters big. The head of a newborn baby is about 35 centimeters big. During active labor, my cervix will only expand up to 10 centimeters. Pushing 35 centimeters out of 10 centimeters. That's like...pushing a water balloon through a hole the size of a baseball. I guess you could say it hurts just a bit."

"As gross as it sounds...I'm actually excited to watch," he laughed, reaching out for her hand.

"You'll be the first, honey. John stepped out of the room when Dylan was born, he claimed it was some gross scientific stuff that he didn't need to watch. Sam didn't come to see Norman until he was two days old, he missed everything due to a business trip. I found out a week later that he spent the trip banging some showgirl," she sighed, reaching into the popcorn bowl on the table to pop a few pieces in her mouth.

"That's despicable to me. I couldn't imagine myself not coaching you through labor. Or missing the birth of my daughter," he said, tugging her closer to him on the couch. His fingers meshed with her blonde curls with ease.

She cocked her head to peek at him out of the corner of her blue lit pupils, "Daughter, huh? You have this all figured out?"

He grinned, "Well yeah, I mean...you already have two boys. Seems kind of fitting that we would have a girl. I think I want a girl anyway."

"Really? Mr. Tough Macho Sheriff wants to raise a girl? I would have assumed you to want a boy so you could teach him to kick ass and take names like yourself," she laughed, tightening her grip on his arm and relaxing into his torso.

"I was, I definitely was but…when I was driving home the other night I heard _Mia_...y'know the Aerosmith song. And I got to thinking about how much I love that name," he explained, picking up the remote to find a movie.

"You wanna name our possible daughter Mia?" she asked, thinking about the name choice.

"We don't have to do it. I just really love the name for a girl."

"No, no...Mia Romero. That's lovely," she cooed, looking down at her prodding stomach. "I'm impressed. You picked a perfect name and she's not even here yet. I'd hate it if we made this concrete and we got surprised by a son."

"I'd love both the same, I just want the baby to come out healthy and I want you to be okay after the labor," he explained, flipping through the classics section on On Demand, Norma's favorite.

"You're preaching to the choir," she said, dropping a kiss on the back of his hand, "Let's talk middle names though. Mia Romero is so beautiful, I want her to have the perfect middle name hypothetically speaking."

"How about we just lend her yours...Mia Louise. That has a pretty ring to it, don't you think?" he asked, his attention shifted completely off of the television.

She shook her head, "I don't want her to have my middle name. I always hated when parents did that...children are not their parents, they are just representations of them."

"Norma...isn't your son's name Norman?" he asked quietly.

"Pffft...I was high when I named Norman. I tore so badly down there...31 stitches to be exact, they gave me the most hardcore painkillers that they could find. His name was picked at random while I was completely laid out on percocets. I couldn't feel my lower half for three days," she laughed, never expecting to admit the story to anyone.

He keeled over giggling at her confession, "I knew there was more to the story there."

"Rose," she said simply, like it was the obvious answer to a simple question, "Mia Rose Romero."

"It's perfect," he agreed, kissing the top of his wife's head. "I'm already in love with her."

"I know, sweetheart. Me too. I can't wait until she's actually here. And I am so, so excited to create her nursery," she grinned, feeling genuinely excited to be a mother again.

"Nope. I'm going to do it all, I'll create the perfect nursery. I already have some great ideas," he said, thinking about every paint chip, stencil, and decorative piece of furniture that would accentuate the room.

"Really? You wanna do it all?" she asked, there was no argument on the rise. Norma knew her limitations, she knew that she was older now. There was no way she could actually take on that whole project by herself without giving up halfway through. She was going to be tired throughout this pregnancy, she was in her 40s. And she already knew that the doctor wouldn't want her on her feet at all.

He nodded immediately.

"It'll be the perfect little room for our princess...or prince."

_**I hope you all enjoyed this new chapter. Let me know how you felt about this installment, I wanted to make it fluffy as ever. I believe that fluff is a number one element between any couple that is expecting and I really wanted to bring that out in my chapter. Thank you all for reading! MJ XOXO**_


End file.

Bates Motel, Hurt-Comfort, Romance